Regarded as one of the best golf courses in England, like most links layouts, the challenge of Royal Birkdale depends very much on the weather.
With narrow fairways, unforgiving rough, menacing pot bunkers and even intimidating sand dunes, it can become extremely difficult when the wind gets up, the rain come down and the waves crash in from the Irish Sea.
So apart from the early starters in Thursday's opening round who experienced a bit of the nasty stuff, most players could be thankful for the relatively benign conditions for the rest of the day. But they know all too well how rapidly the weather and fortunes can change in that part of the world. And the forecast for yesterday's second round looked like it could cause a lot of grief, especially for the later starters.
Someone who had no problem with the conditions on the opening day was the impressive Jordan Spieth, finishing on five-under 65 on the par-70 course after a faultless round. With two majors already under his belt you get the feeling this exciting 23 year-old American will be in the mix tomorrow afternoon.
"I couldn't have done much better today," Spieth said after his round and nobody was about to argue with him.
It was a good day for the American contingent with Spieth's compatriots Matt Kuchar and Brooks Koepka sharing the top of the leaderboard with him.
Leading the British challenge was the ever-improving Paul Casey on four-under, while Ian Poulter, who was among the early starters did well to finish three-under considering the tricky weather conditions he had to contend with.
The other big story emerging from Thursday was of course Rory Mcllroy's recovery after appearing to be suffering a near meltdown on the front nine. Finishing one-over might not look exceptional but when you consider he suffered five bogeys on his first six holes and was looking a lost cause, he will be very relieved by managing a 71.
It is a tribute to Mcllroy's mental strength that he managed to turn things around. He admits his caddie, JP Fitzgerald, had a lot to do with his recovery. At the sixth hole, and looking like he was heading for disaster, the caddie came up to the golfer and said "You're Rory Mcllroy, what the ---- are you doing?" And from that time his fortunes magically changed.
Rory was also helped by a very supportive crowd who sensed he was in mental turmoil and needed some help. "Wake up Rory!" shouted one member of the gallery and the golfer from Northern Ireland did just that.
It was a mixed bag for Thailand's record three representatives. The trio were all early starters and unfortunately experienced the worst of the weather. Thongchai Jaidee (47) can be well satisfied at finishing on even par 70, especially after suffering a confidence crushing double bogey on the opening hole. Thongchai's enormous experience served him well as he shook off that bad start, knowing there were opportunities on the back nine with its two par-five holes. "I calmed down and my game-plan worked," he said.
Phachara Khongwatana, amazingly in his second successive Open at the age of only 18, was going well at one-under after six holes but a triple bogey at the seventh set him back and he eventually did well to finish with a four-over 74.
Prayad Marksaeng (51) has played in five Opens abut has never made the cut and it is looking like he won't break his duck this time around. Prayad suffered a poor back nine which saw him finish on a six-over 76. He was a respectable two -over when he reached the 15th, but he dropped four shots over the final four holes.
Spare a thought for Mark O'Meara, winner of this event at Birkdale in 1998. At the time of his victory O'Meara commented "I believe golf was meant to be played links style… the creativity factor and the elements -- those are things that make it more special."
He may have a different viewpoint after Thursday's round. O'Meara had the honour of hitting the opening shot of the tournament. Unfortunately, it went out of bounds and he ended up with a quadruple-bogey eight at the opening hole, eventually finishing with an 11-over 81. O'Meara admitted "my game was toast after that tee shot".
Many other players experienced horrors at that same hole which is living up to its reputation as being the toughest opening hole on the entire Open circuit.
If anyone doubts the potential challenge of the course, at the 2008 Open the cut was an extraordinary nine- over. In the third round high winds caused chaos and not one player recorded an under-par round. Padraig Harrington went on to win the tournament on three over. Sandy Lyle didn't even finish the first round. After 10 holes he was 11-over par and walked off and he said it took him weeks to recover from the experience.
The rough can be hazardous too. During the 1971 tournament Lee Trevino joked: "At the 15th we put down my bag to hunt for the ball, found the ball, lost the bag."
One player with happy memories of Birkdale is Justin Rose. It was at this course in 1998 as a 17-year-old Rose made his debut on the world stage and as a qualifier came tied fourth.
The players fortunate enough to make the cut will be pleased to learn the weather forecast is not too severe for the weekend, although they can expect "occasional showers" and of course winds coming from all directions. It could be fun.