Golf: Ko battles windy conditions

Ko is four-over for the tournament; a credible effort in the blustery circumstances of the last two rounds. Photo / Getty Images

Lydia Ko left the Old Course after grafting a three-over par 75 in the third round of the women's British Open and play was immediately suspended due to high winds.

The gauge is if players' balls start moving before they play their shots, which tends to happen around the most exposed parts of the course from holes eight through to 11.

Everyone was required to exit after either marking their ball or finishing the hole they were on.

Ko is four-over for the tournament; a credible effort in the blustery circumstances of the last two rounds. The result affected her scorecard in more ways than just shot accumulation. At one stage her card took a tiki-tour across the 18th fairway and had to be retrieved by her caddy. At the moment of suspension she was 14 shots off the pace but the leaders were yet to start.

After the calm of the opening day where she shot 69, the wind has been the dominant factor in rounds of 76 and 75. A sepia conveyor belt of clouds constantly crossed the course towards the North Sea.

"It was definitely at its worst today," Ko said. "It was hard core. Some of the holes we were coming straight into it. Score-wise I was better than yesterday but I still made a few silly mistakes."

Ko's most impressive hole was a birdie on the par four 12th. The gallery observed her while wearing clothes which suggested they were about to embark on an expedition with Ernest Shackleton. Ko's Japanese playing partner Mika Miyazato even wore fluffy earmuffs on her way to a six-over par 78.

Ko said she knew it wasn't her tournament when her birdie putt stopped on the par four 15th.

"One-quarter of the ball was suspended over the hole. I was like, 'how does that not go in?' Still, it was a good par considering the wind.

"Then at 17, I had a 220-yard shot to the green and I had to really pump my three-wood on. At times I was just thankful the ball was actually going forwards."