Play suspended during Open Championship practice rounds as storms approach Royal Birkdale

Practice rounds for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale have been halted as electrical storms approach the Southport coast.

Play will get underway tomorrow morning for the 146^th renewal of the competition, with defending Champion Henrik Stenson hoping to cling onto the Claret Jug after his victory at Royal Troon last year.

But those hoping to get to grips with the notoriously hard links course had to stop playing on Wednesday during their practice rounds.

The weather looks set to continue to take centre stage throughout the weekend, although these storms should make way for a generally bright opening Thursday.

The rain and wind will come later in the tournament though, with gusts of up to 35mph on Friday.

This will not come as welcome news to Rory McIlroy who has attributed his recent poor form to playing in adverse condition.

“I thinking playing in the wind last few weeks has put my alignment out,” told reporters.

“And that’s the tricky thing about playing in the wind in the build-up to this event - you run the risk of getting into a few bad habits, just of trying to keep the ball down.

“That’s what we are trying to iron out. “