Golf's greatest players gathered yesterday for practice rounds at the sport's birthplace, testing the Old Course before Thursday's start of the 150th anniversary edition of the British Open.
Golf's greatest players gathered yesterday for practice rounds at the sport's birthplace, testing the Old Course before Thursday's start of the 150th anniversary edition of the British Open.
History will be made on the legendary links course where Jack Nicklaus won twice and bid farewell to golf, Bobby Jones and Seve Ballesteros collected crowns and Tiger Woods roared to victory in epic form in 2000 and 2005.
"It all started here," Scotsman Andrew Coltart said. "It obviously means a lot to anybody who has crossed the Swilcan Bridge to play here."
Top-ranked Woods bids for an unprecedented third Open crown at St. Andrews and his 15th major title overall, three shy of Nicklaus' all-time record, in the wake of a sex scandal that has swept away his once-iconic good buy image.
"It's just an amazing, amazing test of positioning your golf ball," Woods said of the Old Course. "In order to get to a lot of the flags, you have to put the ball in the correct spot to have angles."
Reigning Masters champion Phil Mickelson says he might claim his first Claret Jug if he can master the greens of St Andrews.
"I feel like I should have a good chance," Mickelson said. "The thing I've struggled most with has actually been the greens. It's a stronger grass and I haven't adjusted properly. If I can change that, I should be able to contend."
