And thick, threatening, golden coloured rough swaying ominously in that breeze.
Welcome to the British summer in Open week, especially to all you US and Asian Tour players, more used to neat, languid rough and the sun beating down on your back.
Of course, there's one American who will not be at Birkdale tomorrow, and there's been some suggestion that the triumph of whoever lifts the old Claret Jug will be somehow tarnished because Tiger's not there.
Rubbish.
England's Ashes cricket joy was not lessened because Glenn McGrath missed a Test through injury.
The 1953 'Matthews FA Cup Final' kept its name even though Bolton left back Ralph Banks was hobbling all through that second half as the winger swept past him.
And whoever wins at Birkdale will be a rightful champion.
But picking a winner? That's a different matter.
A glance at the odds shows the bookies are as undecided as the rest.
Ernie Els, with his wealth of experience and undoubted quality, is vying for the favourites' tag with Sergio Garcia, who has attracted a fair number of wagers particularly as it's 'in the stars' that he'll follow Spain's victorious Euro 2008 team and fellow countryman and Wimbledon wizard Rafael Nadal onto the victors' rostrum.
But even those two are far from being even warm favourites, and there's a host of challengers from the rest of the field who have a realistic chance of landing the title.
It seems a bit premature to write off Padraig Harrington's chances of retaining his crown, but the holder has been in indifferent form of late and with an injured wrist making him a doubtful starter, he looks a long shot even if he makes it to the first tee.
As for Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, they probably represent the best home hopes, but neither looked in great form in Scotland and Poulter in particular was sullen and downbeat.
The US challenge, many home fans wil be delighted to note, looks a bit anaemic.
Last week's US Tour winner Kenny Perry is not even coming, and while big guns Phil Mickelson and Jim Furyk are the main hopes, do they really have the ability to stay on the fairway for 72 windswept holes?
And after that, you're looking at the likes of Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink and Steve Stricker, and an indifferent weather forecast means it will be a big ask for that trio, who are used to gliding the ball onto the green in humid, windless conditions.
Nick Dougherty knows the course, but the death of his mother hit him hard and he's in awful form, and while Aussie Adam Scott is a straight enough hitter to cope, time and again he's come up short when the pressure's on.
One player I do have an inkling for is Robert Karlsson.
Aside from the cliches about him being an ice cool Swede, which Gary Lineker will no doubt trot out with boring regularity, this guy can play, he will be used the conditions and he's in decent nick.
Talking of decent nick, Graeme McDowell is the form horse after a great win at Loch Lomond, and will also relish the conditions.
And my betting spies tell me that if you're looking for a real outside bet, Cheshire rookie David Horsey is your man, as he's just reeled off two Challenge Tour wins and will have loads of local support.
Whoever you go for, you'll get good odds.
I'm hoping to get there on Saturday, and I can't wait.