Major champions congregate in Scotland

Hot, hot, hot is how the weather is looking this week.  It has already been a rather delicious summer.  Also in Scotland.  A few days ago on Sunday, 10th July 2022 the hottest day ever at St Andrews was recorded.  How does a temperature of 29.3 degrees centigrade sound?  Simply very hot!  And that is exactly what the world’s greatest golfers will be looking to deal with as they compete in the historical 150th edition of the Open Championship which takes place on the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland from Thursday, 14th until Sunday, 17th July.

 

Champions from across the globe will be playing at St Andrews including the defending Open Champion from America, Collin Morikawa.  He won the Open at Royal St George’s in Kent in his first British victory.   On Sunday, the then 24-year old player shot a magical 66 to score a 15-under par 265.  Another American golfing phenomenon, Jordan Spieth was runner-up two shots behind.

 

The last time the Open was at St Andrews was in 2015.  American Zach Johnson seized the Claret Jug that year after a 4-hole play-off with South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Australia’s Marc Leishman.

 

The 150th Open Championship will be the 30th Open ever to be held at St Andrews.  The first was in 1873.  Surprisingly the course is 469 years old and due to the recent weather is expected to provide a very bouncy affair for the top players from around the world.

 

Baked fairways, firm

greens and a stiff breeze

will make St Andrews play

tough this week.

 

Players like Willie Park Senior and Old Tom Morris could never have imagined what the Open Championship would become when they played in the first Championship at Prestwick.  That was in 1860 with a small field of just 8 players.  How times have changed!

 

The world’s greatest players will descend on Fife this week to try and capture the famed silver trophy.  The last European winner of the Open was Shane Lowry from Ireland in 2019.  He claimed his Claret Jug at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland.  The ‘Best Brit’ before that was Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy who won the championship at Royal Liverpool in 2014.  As the World’s Number Two golfer, McIlroy is competing again this year together with Scottie Scheffler, the American player who won this year’s Masters and who now rules the world rankings.  Spaniard Jon Rahm as World Number Three is also in contention at St Andrews.

 

The 150th Open Championship is the last of the four Majors on the golfing calendar this year.  Who will conquor the Old Course at St Andrews to become the Champion Golfer of the Year?  It is a fascinating prospect!  We’ll be keeping an eagle eye on the proceedings as play commences very early tomorrow morning!  Yes, Thursday, 14th July is the first day.  All we can say is sit back, relax and enjoy the golf …!

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: American Collin Morikawa defends his title at St Andrews, Scotland in the 150th edition of the Open Championship.