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Why is there 'fog' on a glorious sunny day at the Genesis Scottish Open?

It was like two different golf courses on day three at the Renaissance Club.

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        Now you see it, now you don't.

        The island of Fidra with its lighthouse has become one of the most recognisable images on the DP World Tour. Visible from the 13th, there are even areas specifically set up for fans to take pictures.

        But on Moving Day it disappeared, shrouded by a grey mist which engulfed the picturesque corner of the course made up of the 12th, 13th and 14th.

        What made it all the more odd was that mere yards away the 15th tee, and the rest of the course, was bathed in glorious warm sunshine.

        The reason? A weather phenomenon known as a haar, or sometimes a fret, which is in fact quite common on the east coast of Great Britain.

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        WhatsApp Image 2025-07-12 at 14.47.06

        "A sea haar occurs when warm air overrides the cold North Sea," said Genesis Scottish Open meteorologist Craig Mroczka. "You get warm air being pulled up overriding cold air over the sea and that causes the water to condense.

        "You get the east wind here which we've had over the last couple of days along with warmer air coming in with the high pressure that's bringing the warmth down to the southern part of the country, that's just a recipe for haar, that's a guarantee that it's going to happen.

        "You've got glorious sunshine here at the clubhouse but right on the coastline is where it seems to want to hang out.

        "It's moving along the breeze which is a good sign so that at least moves it in and out so there's times when it's perfectly playable and fine but it just makes things a lot colder and chillier.

        "It almost seems like we're in two different areas, it's a different world down there on the coast and when you get here to the clubhouse it's beautiful."

        So if you see sunshine and fog side by side at the Renaissance Club, don't fret, it's all part of the links experience.

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