The weather almost played the villain for the men last Thursday. The first round was paused by 4.30 PM as rain and storms moved in at Guyancourt. The defending champion, Xander Schauffele,hads yet to complete his round. The play ended at a slow pace when it resumed half an hour later. What fate awaits Nelly Korda & Co. this week at the Olympics?

Fortunately, the weather at the little-known French commune has cleared up. The sun peeps from behind the clouds, but there are no chances of thunderstorms or rain on Tuesday. And it only gets better from here.

The weather forecast predicts a clear sky will greet the 60-odd female players at the Hubert Chesneau and Robert Von Hagg-designed par-72 layout. The highs and lows will swing between 81F and 61F. Per the Weather Channel, the wind is expected to blow from the west and southwest at a speed of 5 to 10 MPH.

Humidity is expected to stay around 57% to 60%. There is only a 5% chance of rain.  which means the greens at Le Golf National will remain firm by the end of Sunday. That also means there is little chance of a weather threat like in the last iteration. In 2021, the official announcement even touted the plan to decide it by 54 holes.

What does the weather spell for the weekend at the Olympics?

The Thursday forecast predicts a cloudy night. The second round is expected to be played out mostly under overcast conditions. However, there is little to no chance of a sudden downpour. The windspeed too remains the same.

The traditional cut-day, though, will give way to a sunny Saturday morning. Sunday will again be partly cloudy. But a lack of rain and thunderstorms means players will only have to worry about their game and not some external influence.

For the 60 players—as there is no cut—the biggest respite is the lack of wind speed. By general estimate, a 10 MPH speed can have a +/- 20-yard impact on the ball flight. Moreover, a steady gust compels different club choices and a more defensive style of play, as it also affects the shot shape.

As for the layout, as mentioned above, expect the greens to be faster in the final round. For someone like Nelly Korda, whose dexterity with the flat stick is top-notch, this might be an added advantage, as the greens might play out like it does on the LPGA Tour. Whether the world’s No. 1 female golfer can capitalize on that remains to be seen, however. She was bursting with confidence when she last spoke to the media from Le Golf National.