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The 144th Open Championship returns to the “Home of Golf” this July where Rory McIlroy will defend the coveted title over St Andrews’ Old Course. For a number of reasons, this venue is central to the history of our sport. In the early 19th century St Andrews became the first 18-hole course, providing the standard for all future layouts. St Andrews was also the setting for many early professional matches, including the “Grand Match” of 1843 between Allan Robertson and Willie Dunn. These were important precursors to the first Open Championship, held in 1860.
The Open was first contested on the links at St Andrews in 1873 when Tom Kidd was the winner. Since then, the championship has been decided over golf’s“Grand Old Lady”on 27 further occasions.Many legends of the game have lifted the Claret Jug in front of the iconic, sandstone Royal and Ancient clubhouse. James Braid won twice here at the start of the 20th century and the great amateur Bobby Jones was champion in 1927. Jack Nicklaus won in a playoff in 1970 after Doug Sanders had missed “that putt” on the 72nd green. Seve punched the sky after winning in 1984 and Nick Faldo produced a clinical display to triumph in 1990. Tiger Woods won twice in imperious fashion in 2000 and 2005 then, last time out in 2010, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen emerged victorious.