Rain makes everything slippery - most importantly your golf glove and grips on the club. Once your hands start sliding along the grip during your swing then you have no chance of hitting the ball well.

Wet weather clothing is restrictive and stops you swinging properly. Manufacturers do their best to make gear that lets players move freely but it is never ideal.

Looking down as they address the ball, players have to cope with rain dripping off their visors, threatening their concentration. For those who wear glasses (Sandy Lyle, who withdrew on 11 over par after nine holes is a case in point), it becomes almost impossible to see the ball.

The thick and cloying rough at courses like Royal Birkdale becomes even heavier. The grass grabs the clubhead and makes it difficult to get a clean contact on the ball.

As rain begins to settle, the pace of the greens changes, making it difficult to judge distance. The consistency of sand in the bunkers also alters, while in some, water will settle in puddles.

As fairways get softer, balls might pick up mud on landing. Known as 'mud-balls', their flight becomes unpredictable. Add tricky wind conditions to the equation and a player is left guessing where, and how far, the ball might fly.