The Open Championship at St Andrews
St. Andrews, known as the home of golf, is recognized as one of the oldest and most iconic golf courses in the world. In fact, golf began at St. Andrews in the 1400s. Today, the town of St. Andrews owns seven challenging public golf courses including the famous Old Course.
The Open Championship is the oldest major championship in golf and St. Andrews plays host every five years. The Old Course has hosted the Open a record 28 times dating back to 1873, more than any other course.
History and the Old Course
The inaugural Open at St Andrews was played in 1860 and has produced some of the most legendary champions in golf. However, the first Open Championship at St. Andrews was held in 1873 and won by Tom Kidd. Kidd was presented with the first Claret Jug and, to this day, the winner of the Open Championship receives the iconic trophy.
The Old Course is a links-style course that plays to a par 72 and 6,721 yards from the championship tees. The Old Course is famous for its use of double greens. Seven holes share the same green. The Swilcan Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks on the Old Course. The bridge is over 700 years old, and players must walk over the bridge on the 18th hole. Many of the most iconic photos in golf occur on the Swilcan Bridge. The Old Course features 112 bunkers with the most famous 10-foot deep Hell Bunker on the 14th hole. The 17th hole, known as the Road Hole, is one of the most famous holes in golf. Players hit a blind tee shot over the corner of the Old Course Hotel, maneuver the difficult Road Hole Bunker short of the green, and sometimes face a bank shot off the stone wall, which lines the hole near the green.
Past Champions
Many consider The Open Championship the most coveted major. Due to the rich history of St. Andrews, players consider it even more special to win the Open Championship there. Naturally, some of the most influential names in golf have won at the Old Course. Notable champions include Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, among many others. Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, James Braid, John Henry Taylor and Bob Martin all have the distinction of winning the Open Championship twice at St. Andrews. In 2000 while playing the Old Course at St. Andrews, Woods set the scoring record at the Open Championship with -19 under par.
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