The Open Sandwich | Ewan Murray

Paul Lawrie was not amused to find himself in a bunker at the 4th. Photograph: David Davies/PA

The former Open champion Paul Lawrie became the first player in this year's tournament to hit a drive into the 4th hole's notorious coffin bunker, that of James Bond's Goldfinger fame.

Despite the moving forward of tees at the hole, owing to strong wind, the bunker appeared in play for a host of competitors. Most opted to take a safe option left, but Lawrie hit his tee shot into the trap. "The tee should have been 50 or 60 yards up there to give you a chance," he said.

A triple bogey seven on the hole would not have helped Lawrie's mood. Yet he had time for some banter with spectators. He added: "There were about 40 or 50 people out watching my group. I spoke to the crowd at the 15th and said: 'You're mental. I'm getting paid, I've got to be here, you don't!'"

Rumours swept Sandwich on Saturday that Steve Williams, the growling caddie of Tiger Woods, had parted company with his long-time boss. The tale had emanated from Williams's native Australia and gained credence at the Open. But Williams would only venture: "I'm caddying for Adam Scott this week."

For bunker stattos, crucial information has arrived regarding those who played into traps during the first two rounds of this year's Open. It reads thus: "A total of 391 bunkers were found during the second round, 100 more than Thursday. It brings the two-day total to 682, 111 fewer than over the opening 36 holes [at Royal St George's] in 2003." Ryo Ishikawa found the most bunkers, 12, on Thursday and Friday. Fredrik Jacobson was the only player to avoid all bunkers over the first two days. Bunkers on the 11th hole claimed most victims, 70 in two rounds.

There was minor panic in the Royal St George's media centre on Saturday morning when the name of Bubba Watson disappeared from the giant scoreboard. The adhesive holding up the American's name had failed. Still, that didn't stop some from asking, with Watson's very public aberrations at the French Open in mind, if he had fled to Paris to escape the wild weather.

The lucrative flip side of the horrendous third-round rain and wind came for the R&A, who saw queues at the Open's merchandising tent stretch outside the marquee itself. Unsurprisingly, waterproof clothing flew off the shelves. Ice cream vans around the course were quieter, for some reason.

Bo Van Pelt was forced to endure the worst of Saturday's inclement conditions. Upon signing for a perfectly respectable 73, he revealed at least one of his friends in the United States would enjoy watching the scenes on television. "Before I left, he's like, 'I hope it's pissing rain and blowing on you over there,'" Van Pelt said. "He got his wish today. So he's in Indiana laughing right now at me." With friends like those ...

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