Sunday Q&A with TNT's Billy Kratzert

TNT course reporter Billy Kratzert spent two hours Sunday morning in the tower off the 18th green and got a first-hand look at what the players faced at Royal Troon Golf Club. In his opinion, the conditions were the toughest they had been all week. He also offered his thoughts on surprise third-round leader Todd Hamilton's chances.

PGA.com: You were in the tower on the 18th hole this morning. What were the conditions like?

Kratzert: Today is without question the toughest day. When we left the tower after two hours, there were four players under par for the day. And the conditions will probably get a little tougher. There's always the chance that we might get a lull, but I just think it's going to get tougher and tougher and tougher. A good start by Darren Clarke, a good start by Vijay Singh. The guys are hitting driver off 1 and 2, which we haven't seen all week long. It's just going to be a day where the short game is going to be the most important element of the game. You have to figure that you're going to miss half the fairways and half the greens, but the key to the whole day is going to be the short game. If you can somehow keep your wits about you and know that you're going to have to make a bunch of putts, you're gonna be just fine.

PGA.com: Mr. Hamilton was impressive yesterday, and he had the win at the Honda Classic, so he shouldn't be too intimidated. Then again, leading the Open is different that winning the Honda Clasic. He's playing with Ernie Els again. How do you like his chances?

Kratzert: I think it's a very good pairing for him. I think it's one that he's very comfortable with. He played well with Ernie yesterday. Now, everybody might be surprised at the way that Todd Hamilton performed, but Ernie wasn't surprised. I wasn't surprised. You look at his record playing over in Japan and the fact that he won the Honda, I think that's certainly in his favor. But what's more in his favor, in my opinion, is the fact that he thinks the best part of his game is his short game. So think kind of falls right into his hands.

PGA.com: The back nine looks like it's playing very, very tough today, especially holes 10, 11 and 12.

Kratzert: Ten, 11 and 12 will be a pretty good indicator as to who the final two or three guys are that are going to be there. If you get through 10, 11 and 12 unscathed, you're way ahead of the game. But you get those holes locations on the left-hand side and that left-to-right breeze blowing between 14 and 18 miles an hour, it's good for a lefthander, which bring Mickelson into the mix. He can get it up there and let it ride the wind. But a righthanded player is trying to hook into that wind, fighting it and fighting it.

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