The 150th Open – Smith wins but won’t rule out LIV move. PLUS Everything you missed

Cameron Smith delivers his Open victory speech, watched by R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers.

There’s always loads going on at The Open so it’s impossible to keep up with it all. But never fear, we are on-site and will bring you everything you’ve missed from the 150th Championship at St Andrews every day.

Today’s Golfer’s 2022 Major coverage is brought to you in association with TaylorMade.

The momentous week is packed with action on and off the golf course, so let us keep you up to speed with all the goings-on that might have passed you by from the Home of Golf.

The Open 2022: Sunday – Round 4

Smith’s Dad decided against coming to St Andrews!

Ok, we know, you didn’t miss this, but Cameron Smith is the 150th Open champion after an astonishing final day. What you did miss is that his Dad wasn’t here to see it, pulling out at the last minute because he decided he “didn’t want to do all that travelling for one week,” according to his son!

“My dad was actually meant to come over, and he pulled out in the last minute basically. I had a quick chat with him before. He’s kicking himself now.”

The Aussie blitzed his way around the famous Old Course to shoot his second eight-under 64 of the week, reel in Rory McIlroy, and hold off the threat of playing partner and namesake Cameron Young.

He bounced back from a disappointing Saturday 73, which saw him fall four shots behind McIlroy and Viktor Hovland, to lift his maiden Major title and jump to No.2 in the World Rankings.

The 28-year-old made five consecutive birdies after the turn to come home in just 30 shots to stun the thousands of fans rooting for Rory.

Victory means Smith is just the second man, alongside Jack Nicklaus, to win the Players and The Open in the same season. As well as the Claret Jug he takes home the biggest winner’s cheque in Open history – $2.5m.

Safe to say Dad won’t be missing any tournaments going forwards.

RELATED: What Cameron Smith wins as Open champion

The champion refuses to rule out LIV move

During his champion’s press conference the Aussie was asked if there was any truth in rumours that he would be joining the rebel Saudi-backed series

“I’ve just won the British Open and you’re asking me about that?” Smith replied. “I think that’s pretty… not that good.” But when pushed he said: “I dunno mate, my team around me worries about all that stuff, I’m here to win golf tournaments.”

A non-denial denial, then…

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman was the last Aussie to win The Open before Smith and, despite not being invited to the 150th celebrations this week, he was quick to send his congratulations to his countryman.

RELATED: Everything you need to know about LIV Golf

Records aplenty

Smith’s birdie run from the 10th to the 14th was the longest in the final round of an Open since Phillip Price in 2001. His 20-under-par total (67-64-73-64=268) was the lowest winning score in an Open at St Andrews and also matched the lowest winning score in Major history. Then there was that 30 coming in, which was the lowest back-nine score for a winner in Open history.

Away from Smith, the 290,000 fans who piled into St Andrews for the 150th championship set a new record for attendance. judging by the queues and desperate rushes for stock, we’d imagine the media centre also set a record for money taken. The bar’s did pretty well, too.

Aussies win special Opens

Perhaps it was written in the stars that an Aussie would win here. Anyone who’d scanned the history books would’ve seen that Kel Nagle won the centenary anniversary Open Championship here at St Andrews in 1960.

He was a far more surprising winner than Smith, who wasn’t aware of that feat.

“That’s pretty cool, I didn’t know that,” he said. “Hopefully we can keep that trend going with the win every 50 years. That would be nice, wouldn’t it? (Laughter).”

The lucky mullet is going nowhere

Smith had suggested he’d promised to get his famous long locks chopped if he lifted the Claret Jug – perhaps a bet made before he arrived in St Andrews and set about breaking records. But the mullet looks set to remain for a while longer, with Smith saying “I think it’s going to stay, mate,” much to the amusement of those in his press conference.

No claret for Cam’s jug

Smith will be celebrating his victory by supping beers, not wine, from the Claret Jug. He told us he thinks it holds two cans and that he plans to drink about 20 jugs worth tonight!

A tale of two speeches

It’s only golf, but speaking to a tearful Rory McIlroy in the press mixed zone as the “Champion Golfer of the Year is Cameron Smith” was clearly announced in the background was a genuinely heartbreaking moment.

The four-time Major champion remained as composed and eloquent as ever, barely pausing, as he explained where things had gone wrong.

“It’s not life or death,” he said. “I’ll have other chances to win The Open. It’s one I let slip by. I can’t be too despondent – I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve played in a long time.”

The Northern Irishman said it had been impossible not to dream of winning this particular Open Championship.

“I’m only human,” he reflected. “I’m not a robot. Of course, you think about it, and you envision it, and you want to envision it. My hotel room is directly opposite the big yellow board on 18 there, right of the 1st. And every time I go out, I’m trying to envision McIlroy at the top name on that leaderboard and how that feels.

“At the start of the day, it was at the top, but at the start of tomorrow, it won’t be. You’ve got to let yourself dream. You’ve got to let yourself think about it and what it would be like, but once I was on the golf course, it was just task at hand and trying to play the best golf I possibly could.”

Major reasons to smile

While McIlroy will be hurting this evening he has plenty of reason to be positive about his Major performances this season. He’s finished inside the top-10 in all four for the first time in his career, including three top-fives.

Ironically his best Major finish of the season came at The Masters (T2), which was the only one of the four where he wasn’t ever truly in contention.

“I’ve just got to keep putting myself in position, keep putting myself in there,” he said. “And whenever you put yourself in that shining light, you’re going to have to deal with setbacks and deal with failures. Today is one of those times. But I just have to dust myself off and come again and keep working hard and keep believing.”

A costly early mistake

Runner-up Cameron Young missed out on a play-off with Smith by a single shot, and while he produced a superb Sunday 65, including an eagle at the last, he’ll be left ruing a missed four-footer for par that came on the very first hole of the day.

We seem to say this about a lot of players these days, but we’ll be amazed if there’s not Major success for the American in the future.

Silver lining for Celli

Italy’s Filippo Celli took home the Silver Medal, awarded to the leading amateur after the final round of The Open.

Making his Open debut, the 21-year-old finished five-under-par for the week after a closing one-under 71 to comfortably secure the prize.

Fellow amateurs Aaron Jarvis (+1), Barclay Brown (+2), and Sam Bairstow (+4) all receive bronze medals for playing all four rounds.

The burn claims more victims

In the desperate scrum to get down the final hole thousands of fans swarmed through the marshalls and attempted to jump the famous burn but it didn’t end too well for some with one suffering a dislocated knee and another a suspected broken leg. And you thought Rory looked pained on 18.

Garcia quits the DP World Tour

Sergio Garcia confirmed he’d be quitting the DP World Tour and therefore ending his Ryder Cup career – unless the criteria changes.

He told Spanish media: “My resignation is not official, but I’m going to make it effective. What they are doing is a shame because the European Tour is going to become the fifth in the world.”

Garcia means he sees the DP World Tour, which helped launch his career, slipping behind the Liv Golf Series, PGA Tour, Asian Tour, and the Korn Ferry Tour.

The Masters champion and record Ryder Cup points scorer also blasted former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn.

“I want to play where they want me, I like to feel loved, and honestly on the European Tour I don’t feel loved now,” he told The Mirror.

“When Thomas Bjorn comes to the BMW Championship and tells us that here ‘we don’t want any of you and all the players say so’, well, I’m already old enough not to be putting up with nonsense like that.

“There are comments that do not make you feel good. I have given more than half of my life to the European Tour and I was going to continue on the European Tour.

“I feel sorry for the Ryder Cup, my resignation is not official, but I’m going to make it effective. I have what I have and I am very happy with it and I want to enjoy it to the fullest. I will play less, I will be more at home.”

Adam Scott, who finished T15th at The Open, is expected to be announced as a LIV player imminently, while there has been plenty of talk of Europe’s 2023 Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson giving up the role and making the switch as soon as this week. 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama also continues to be linked.

Burns-ing it up

Sam Burns showed that the tough Sunday pins wouldn’t prevent low scores as he tied the low score of the week with an eight-under 64, including birdies at the final four holes!

The World No.11 went out in 33 and back in 31 in the third group of the day. Garrick Higgo (66), Patrick Reed (67), Jordan Smith (67), and Hideki Matsuyama also made hay even without the sun shining to make big moves up the leaderboard.

Bryson DeChambeau couldn’t quite match Burns’ feat, but did birdie the final three holes as he secured a backdoor top-ten finish.

The longest putt ever?

Finding a green in regulation is a box ticked in a golfer’s eyes. But imagine hitting a green only to get there and find you’ve got a 255-foot putt. That’s what could happen on the 5th hole today, where the flag has been placed 85 yards onto the 100-yard-long green! Forget putter, we’d need our sand wedge to cover that distance!

Birdies everywhere

The Open’s combination of seaside courses, huge crowds and thousands of tonnes of food make it heaven for seagulls. Thankfully there’s nothing the organisers don’t think of and the pesky beds are stopped from stealing visitors’ chips and ice creams by a host of eagles around the grounds.

We found Fearnley, a tawny eagle, and Electra, a bald eagle, keeping a watch over the spectator village near the 17th hole. Incredibly, they are 27 and 15 years old respectively!

The Open 2022: Saturday – Round 3

It’s a four-horse race

At least, it is if the stats are to be believed. Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland are four shots ahead of Cameron Smith and Cameron Young heading into Sunday’s final round and no player has ever come from further back than that to win an Open at St Andrews. While it’s bad news for Si-Woo Kim, Scottie Scheffler, Dustin John et al, it does give the rest of the field the opportunity to make even more history with a dramatic come-from-behind win on Sunday.

Sunday’s pins are going to create drama!

We waited with bated breath for Sunday’s final round pin positions and when the R&A dropped them into our inbox late on Saturday night, we weren’t disappointed! With the weather set to be calm and mild, they’re having to use the pins to make the holes as challenging as possible. Just take a look at the flag on 17! Whether it’s someone chasing the lead or the leader trying to protect their lead, there is going to be drama galore before the Claret Jug knows its new owner.

THE OPEN 2022: Hole-by-hole course guide to St Andrews

Rory’s Irish pride

McIlroy said he’d “got a little emotional” while watching Ireland’s rugby union side produce a stunning series win over New Zealand’s All Blacks on away soil ahead of his third round.

“It was an incredible achievement,” said the Northern Irishman, who had tuned into two matches before arriving at the Old Course.

The former World No.1 also bemoaned the lack of rugby to watch ahead of the final round, but explained how he will prepare for the huge day, which could see him end his eight-year-long Major drought at the most fitting of locations.

“I’ll put the phone away,” he said. “The tee times here are late. So I’ve been sort of taking a little mid-morning nap the last couple of days. I’ll just try to do the same thing again.

“I usually get to the golf course three hours before and do a gym session and get some treatment, physio and lunch and everything else. I get my day in pretty well with just keeping myself busy.”

Tyrrell’s Talor fit

Hatton headed into the third round with high hopes of making a fast move up the leaderboard, but the only thing that rose rapidly was the Ryder Cup star’s blood pressure.

The 30-year-old quickly became frustrated with American playing partner Talor Gooch’s pace of play and cut a frustrated figure as the LIV Golf member took five minutes to play a single shot.

Hatton’s temper was clearly wearing thin as the group lost ground on the pair in front and made his feelings known to the game’s referee.

The spat did neither player any good and as they exchanged a frosty handshake at the end of the round, Hatton had carded a one-over 73 and Gooch a three-over 74.

A song for Scotty

Adam Scott celebrated his 42nd birthday on Saturday, celebrating with a two-under par 70 to keep his slim hopes of lifting the Claret Jug alive.

But even if he can’t pull off the miracle, the Aussie will always have the memory of thousands of people singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to him at St Andrews.

As the Masters champion arrived on the 11th tee, the grandstand counted down and then burst into song, leaving him grinning from ear-to-ear as he took in the full rendition.

Poulter gets punchy

It’s been a testing few weeks for Ryder Cup star Ian who has faced plenty of questions about his decision to join LIV Golf, his morals, his role in legal action against the DP World Tour and faced boos on the 1st tee on the first day of this tournament.

And after the 46-year-old had signed for a two-under 70 that leaves him inside the top-25, it was another question about the crowd’s reaction that made ‘the Postman’ see red. Here’s a full transcript of the feisty exchange in the mixed media zone.

Reporter: Felt like you personally were getting a lot of crowd support. Was that something you noticed particularly? It must be quite welcome after people talking about you getting booed on the opening day?

Poulter: Are we still talking about it?

Reporter: I was walking with you today.

Poulter: Did you hear one bad comment?

Reporter: No, I heard a lot of good ones. That’s why I’m asking.

Poulter: I’m asking you a question, did you hear one bad one?

Reporter: No.

Poulter: No, okay. So it’s amazing how we still talk about one person that’s 100 yards down the 1st, where there’s conveniently a microphone positioned way down halfway down the stand and some young guy says boo, and it comes over on the TV. And you all assume I’m being booed on the course. Phil Casey walked 17 holes on day one. He’s not here, but he was standing here the other day. And the 17 holes he walked, there was not one comment. There was not one boo. If you guys continue to write that there are people and there are negative comments and there are boos, then unfortunately that’s not a true reflection of exactly what happened. So it would be really nice if people like yourself, I don’t know your name.

Reporter: Andy.

Poulter: Andy, would actually write the truth, that we’re getting quite a lot of support out there on the golf course because it would just be nice. It would be a fair reflection of actually what’s happening, rather than this continual press of let’s lead down the path of players being booed who have joined the LIV tour. Let’s just say that, right? Fair, respectful, honest journalism would be great because it would be the truth.

RELATED: Everything you need to know about LIV Golf

Barclay’s stock crumbles

Bucket-hat-wearing crowd favourite Barclay Brown saw his hopes of the Silver Medal take a massive hit as he carded his first over-par round of the week, dropping from six-under-par to just one-under and lose his grip on the leading amateur prize.

The 21-year-old Englishman, playing in his first Open, had started round three with hopes of making a charge towards the biggest prize, but he never really recovered from two early bogeys and then played the final four holes in four-over.

Italy’s Filippo Celli, above, continued to impress with a one-under-par 71 to sit at four-under for the tournament and now looks the most likely man to be standing beside the Champion Golfer of the Year come Sunday night.

Unfortunately for Sam Bairstow, his hopes are over. A disastrous moving day saw the Englishman make six bogeys and a double in a seven-over 71 which leaves him propping up the leaderboard and facing the earliest start on Sunday morning.

Slick operation

The third round of The Open saw an unusually large police presence around the Old Course, but it wasn’t over fears that Poults would stick. a journalist’s pen where the sun doesn’t shine, nor was it the fashion police seeking out Cameron Smith’s shirt. They had been tipped off about plans for a ‘Stop the oil’ protest, similar to those seen at the British Grand Prix and Premier League football matches in recent months.

Thankfully the day went by without anyone cable-tieing themselves to Rory’s driver or supergluing themselves to the Road Hole… but there’s always tomorrow. Fingers crossed the drama is served up by Team Europe’s boys in blue and not Her Majesty’s.

Lowry makes history

The 2019 Open champion sent the galleries wild as he became the first man in 21 years to make back-to-back eagles at The Open.

The Irishman’s renowned short game shone and saw him hole his second shot on both the par-4 9th and 10th holes to take a huge jump up the leaderboard and become the first man to achieve the feat since Phil Mickelson at Royal Lytham in 2001.

Lowry had started the day at four-under-par and was nine-under after his wedge magic, but faded after a series of missed putts and ended up seven-under for the tournament.

DeChambeau’s crazy finish

Big-hitting Bryson flew through the front nine and up the leaderboard but the real drama came at his final three holes.

After hitting the par-4 16^th double green in two, DeChambeau four-putted for double-bogey. He had a putt of 117 feet, then a putt of 18 feet, then a putt of four feet, then a putt of seven feet.

If that wasn’t dramatic enough, he ballooned his tee shot on the par-4 17th Road Hole miles left into the fescue only to get a generous line of site drop from the grandstands, before hitting his second shot onto the road.

Luckily he’d practised playing off gravel at his home course, Belmont Country Club, as a child and produced a shot that perfectly mixed skill and luck to put it to four feet and save par.

“Pitching wedge. Like off the toe. I was trying to have some loft, but still bounce it into the bank and hopefully hit it in a good spot where it doesn’t hit dead and doesn’t hit a hot spot either. Hit perfectly. Bounced up and rolled over beautifully. I was very lucky,” he said.

At the par-4 18th he needed every inch of the 129-yard wide fairway, hooking a 4-iron towards the 1st hole grandstands, only for it to be saved by a metal railing. A free drop followed and he produced a sublime pitch from 71 yards to four feet for an unlimkely closing birdie.

Whatever you may think of Bryson, he brings entertainment.

Radar’s drinking challenge

When Sky Sports’ on-course commentator Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley grabbed a can of water from the cooler on the 4th tee while following McIlroy and Hovland, the crowd decided to set the Aussie a challenge. “Chug, chug, chug,” the chant began, and Radar happily obliged, downing the H20 like it was a cold bottle of VB before crushing the can in his right palm and opening his arms wide in the style of a messiah. Cue wild cheers from the raucous Saturday afternoon galleries, many of who looked like they’d been enjoying a few cans themselves.

RELATED: Weather forecast for Sunday at The Open

Daly’s playing the weekend… but not at The Open

John Daly was devastated after the weather switched on Friday afternoon, causing some of his later holes to play more difficultly and ultimately contribute to the former champion’s narrowly missed cut.

But the larger-than-life American soon got over the disappointment as he headed off for an early morning tee time at the world-renowned Kingsbarns with his son and a group of friends.

Trey plays Kis chase

Kevin Kisner and Trey Mullinax showed the rest of the field what was possible early on Saturday as they fired a best ball score of 61, including a front nine 29.

Kisner flew out of the blocks, playing the outward stretch in six-under-par, seemingly holing everything he looked at, to fly through the field, with Mullinax only two shots worse.

Three further birdies followed on the back-nine, mixed in with a couple of bogeys, to leave the American seven-under for his round and tied for 8th as it stands.

Mullinax, who took the final spot in the field with his win at The Barbasol last Sunday, fired a six-under 66.

Mansell by name and by nature

Nigel would have been proud of Richard Mansell’s speed on Saturday morning. Heading out first alongside a marker (more on that shortly), the Englishman flew around the Old Course in 3hrs 35mins, shooting a four-under-par 68. It just goes to show how rapidly this course can be played when it’s clear ahead of you.

Herald gets his Open shot

Scott Herald was the man to play alongside Mansell in that opening game of the day. One of the pros at St Andrews, Herald had tried to reach the event himself, missing out in qualifying, only to get his chance to play the weekend. We believe Herald will also head out with one of the field in Sunday’s opening game.

Hovland’s late night at Carnoustie

No-one could’ve predicted that Viktor Hovland would be in contention for his first Major win after he missed the cut and looked out of sorts at last week’s Scottish Open.

But the Norwegian used his weekend off to get in 36 holes of prep, before heading out for a twilight round at Carnoustie on Monday, finishing the famous 18th practically in the darkness.

“My caddie Shay Knight, he’s been raving about Carnoustie, and it’s one of his favourite golf courses in the world. I figured we may as well head over there and play some golf,” he said. “It was a lot of fun. We probably played it as easy as it possibly could have.

“It didn’t play very difficult but I was trying to picture, if there’s a certain wind direction on a lot of those holes, there’s not a lot of room behind or in between a lot of those bunkers. It was just a cool place and kind of recreating Jean van de Velde on the 18th hole.

“It’s just a historical place. You kind of remember shots and it’s cool to be there in person.

“We finished in the dark. I couldn’t really see the pin on 18 but I think I shot four-under. I played pretty nice. So that gave me some confidence going into this week.”

RELATED: Why The Old Course is the best in Great Britain and Ireland

The Open 2022: Friday – Round 2

Cameron Smith’s crystal ball

Cameron Smith told us at the start of this week that St Andrews represented his ”best chance” of winning the Open – and he’s lived up to his prediction so far. Two rounds in and the World No.6 is setting the pace at the top after shooting rounds of 67-64, raising hopes of becoming the first Aussie winner of The Open since Greg Norman.

He is one of several big-name stars experiencing an Open at St Andrews for the first time this week, though he says he is embracing the challenge of fast and firm links course because of some of his experiences growing up.

“I think I’ve always been a pretty good player in tough conditions. I think most Aussies are, for some reason. I think we’re all brought up to be smart golfers, hitting away from the pin sometimes. And that really serves us well, I think, in big tournaments and when the conditions get tough. And I think the Aussies will do good this week as it gets firmer and faster.”

RELATED: WITB Cameron Smith

If he does manage to convert his 36-hole lead into a victory on Sunday, he will become the first Aussie winner of The Open since Greg Norman. Just don’t expect him to shave off his trademark mullet in celebration if he does.

“I’ve always said that if I won a tournament or did something good, I would cut it off. And I’ve done that a couple times this year, and it’s still on there,” he said.

“So I’d like to say I would cut it off, but it’s probably not going to happen. I feel like it’s almost a part of me now. People recognise the hair and makes a few people laugh. Yeah, it’s good.”

Woods waves goodbye to the Home of Golf

The 15-time Major champion couldn’t produce a second round miracle as he shot a three-over 75 to finish nine-over par amid emotional scenes at the Home of Golf.

Woods needed a seriously low round on Friday to have any chance, and while an early birdie got him back to five-over, a couple of bogeys halted the momentum and left him a mountain to climb if he was to get anywhere near the projected level par cutline.

Nevertheless, the scenes as he crossed the Swilken Bridge and made his way down the 18th fairway were reminiscent of those normally reserved for the Champion Golfer of the Year.

Tiger’s farewell had been long planned to ensure his path crossed with Rory’s during that famous walk. Read our exclusive piece on the plan, here.

Rory wants Tiger to get another shot

Speaking after his round, Rory McIlroy said it was “cool to be on that fairway” as Tiger made his walk, but the four-time Major champ wants The Open to return to St Andrews sooner rather than later so that Woods can play there again.

“I just hope – everyone hopes – it’s not the end of his Old Course career,” the Northern Irishman said after posting a four-under 68 to sit just three shots back going into the weekend. “I think he deserves, we deserve him to have another crack at it.

“Hopefully The Open’s back here in four or five years’ time and he does get another crack at it because with how good he’s been throughout his career and how good he’s been at The Old Course, I think that’s not the way about him, he’s got better in him.”

Unfortunately, Rory’s wish may not come true…

St Andrews faces long wait for Open return

While the next Open to be played at the Home of Golf has yet to be confirmed by the R&A both Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm referenced 2030 in their post-round press chats.

Traditionally The Open visits St Andrews every five years, being played at the start and in the middle of a decade, but a combination of Covid and wanting the 150th anniversary to be played on The Old Course meant a seven-year gap since its last playing and, consequently, a potential eight-year gap before it returns.

When discussing whether this was his final St Andrews Open, Woods said: “I think the next one comes around in 2030, and I don’t know if I will be physically able to play by then.”

Rahm added: “From what I heard, it will be in 2030, which is eight years from now, which is probably a few years too long.”

If that is the case then it will be the third longest break from St Andrews in Open history. There was an 11-year gap from 1910 to 1921, which incorporated the first World War, and a nine-year wait from 1946 to 1955.

Morikawa’s unwanted achievement

Collin Morikawa’s birdie at the last was not enough to get him in for the weekend as he became the first defending champion since Darren Clarke in 2012 to fail to make the cut.

The American’s second one-over-par 73 meant he missed the level-par cutline by a single stroke and Padraig Harrington keeps his place as the last man to defend the Claret Jug back in 2008.

DJ seeks redemption…

Dustin Johnson surged into contention, following his opening 68 with a comfortable 67 to sit nine-under-par, but he’s been here before and it didn’t have a happy ending.

The 38-year-old led after two rounds here in 2015 on 10-under par after a superb opening 65 and solid second-round 69, only to capitulate with successive 75s over the final two rounds.

But DJ being DJ, he hasn’t given that a moment’s thought.

“To be honest, I don’t even remember the third round from seven years ago,” he smiled. “I’ve played a lot of golf since then, and that was a long time ago.

“Obviously any time playing in a major and playing golf courses, you learn stuff about yourself. But that was quite a while ago. I don’t want to go back to it obviously. It wasn’t very good.”

His weekend plan will largely depend on the weather… and staying out of the hazards.

“It’s all based on the wind how you attack the golf course and kind of where you hit it and where you want to
hit it. [Strategy will be] Pretty much the same as I’ve done the last couple days, just try to keep it out of the bunkers off the tee.”

…And doesn’t believe there’s extra motivation for LIV’s players

Johnson, who was one of the shock signings to LIV Golf, said “I don’t know what you’re talking about” when asked if criticism of LIV’s players had pulled them closer and motivated them all to do well this week, with several high on the leaderboard.

“For me, obviously, they’re all good players and playing well this week. For me coming in here, obviously, it’s a major. I want to come in here and play well and compete.”

DJ is one of the LIV players who’s received a fully positive response from the crowds in Scotland, said he hadn’t seen or heard any of the negativity surrounding the rebel tour.

“Honestly, I don’t read anything. So I wouldn’t know what you were saying or if there was anything negative being said. I don’t pay attention to it.

“I don’t read. I don’t look at it. It doesn’t bother me because obviously, everyone has their own opinion and I have mine, and the only one I care about is mine. All I try to do is focus on myself and the golf. Everything else will take care of itself.

“The crowds have been fantastic. I’ve always had a lot of support over here, [and] it’s been that way this week. A lot of support out there, and the fans have been great.”

The two-time Major champion was also keen to voice his understanding of the importance of The Open and it’s history.

“It means a lot,” he said. “First of all, it’s a major. It’s the only [Major] tournament played over here, and kind of
the only one that I ever play.

“It’s a big tournament. It’s a great tournament. Obviously if you look at the history of it, it’s a golf tournament that I would love to have – it’s a trophy I would love to have in the office when I’m done with my golf career.”

Four-horse race for Silver Medal

Barclay Brown leads the race to win the leading amateur prize, but he’ll still have eyes for the Claret Jug after a second-round 70 kept him in the hunt at six-under and on exactly the same score as fellow Sheffield native and Hallamshire member Matt Fitzpatrick.

Italy’s Filippo Celli produced a superb 67 to sit three shots back of Brown, while Sam Bairstow and England’s Sam Bairstow and the Cayman Islands’ Aaron Jarvis both made the cut on the number and will need a weekend charge if either of them is to stand beside the Champion Golfer come Sunday evening.

Japan’s Keita Nakajima and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter, who beat Bairstow in this year’s Amateur Championship, will both be heading home having finished three-over and six-over respectively.

Higgo’s hot start

Garrick Higgo made light work of the opening stretch as he birdied the first four holes to shoot up the leaderboard.

Starting the day on level par, the South African made four 3s in a row to record the week’s longest birdie streak. It was quite the switch from his opening round, where he played the stretch in one-over. Surprisingly, the run came to an end at the par-5 5th, which he’s failed to birdie in either round. He made it safely into the weekend at three-under.

Cameron Smith started his second round with three birdies to boost his hopes of a maiden Major, but couldn’t match Higgo, settling for a par at the 4th.

Great Scott

Speaking of hot streaks, Adam Scott was four-over through six holes of his opening round. The Aussie made 11 birdies and 19 pars across his next 30 holes and sits on seven-under and within touching distance of the current clubhouse lead heading into the weekend.

The 41-year-old battled back and birdied the final hole to record a level-par 72 before producing a blemish-free 65 early on Friday.

“As good as the 65 was today, I think getting back to even was huge yesterday,” the Masters champion said. “After six holes things weren’t feeling particularly good. So I’m really pleased with that. I did a lot of good stuff out there today.”

Scott, who played alongside current clubhouse leader Dustin Johnson, had set himself a target of reaching double digits under-par to have a chance, so knows there’s still work to do.

“I’m probably going to be a fair way back at the end of today, I’d think. I’m on my way. I’ve got the next two rounds and probably going to have to try and stretch it up unless the wind blows getting up near 20. So it’s kind of attack if you can do that around here.”

Calcavecchia waves goodbye

Mark Calcavecchia said an emotional goodbye to The Open on Friday morning, but there was no fairytale ending for the man who was victorious at Troon in 1989.

The American was first out in the second round, getting underway in wet and cold conditions at 6.35am, and whizzing around the course in just four hours – a pace that many of today’s later groups can only dream off.

After the traditional wave goodbye on the Swilken Bridge alongside his wife and caddie Brenda Nardecchia, he wiped a tear from his eye as he walked to the 18th green for his final moments in the famous tournament.

“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I felt it,” he told us afterwards. I felt the emotions. Got a little mildly choked up, but all the way around, the last two days, the fans were great. They were cheering for me and pulling for me, and they were aware that this was my last Open. So that was pretty cool. It means a lot. It really does.”

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dream finish and his 21-over-par total sees him propping up the field in 156th place, but he didn’t care.

“Forget about my golf. It wouldn’t have mattered if I shot a pair of 75s or a pair of 85s, which I nearly did. It was about playing one more, my last one here at the home of golf, which is really cool to be able to end it here.”

“The 62-year-old made his Open debut back in 1987 and this was his first appearance since 2018 at Carnoustie. His eligibility expired in 2020 after he turned 60, but was extended due to Covid and then further extended when he underwent surgery in 2021., but was unable to attend due to arthroscopic knee surgery.

“If I would have been healthy last year, I would have played last year, and I would have been fine with that. But when I got the e-mail from Martin Slumbers, when he said the committee has unanimously agreed to have you play your last Open here at St Andrews, that was a great night. I’ve really been looking forward to it for quite a while.”

Calcavecchia had seven top 20s and missed the cut on 11 occasions, including his last five appearances. He plans to continue playing on the PGA Champions tour, but first he’s hanging on in St Andrews to watch the conclusion of the tournament before making a decision on whether his knees are fit enough to play in next week’s Senior Open at Gleneagles.

Haotong’s horror start

Finding the burn on the first is one thing, but hitting the wall around the burn and watching the ball bounce back almost 100 yards towards you is quite another. That’s what happened to China’s Haotong Li early on Friday morning as he looked to make a fast start to round two.

One-over after his first round, the 26-year-old hit a perfect tee shot and looked to have played a perfect approach to the tight pin, only to look on in disgust as the unthinkable happened. From their the DP World Tour winner dumped his 3rd into the burn and wracked up a damaging triple that played a huge part in him missing the cut.

If looks could talk then Haotong’s would’ve been unprintable…

The Open 2022: Thursday – Round 1

Introducing your first round leader, Cameron Young

We heard you uttering the words, who is Cameron Young? Well, the American has been threatening to come good for a while. The PGA Tour rookie was one of the surprise contenders at the US PGA Championship and has already finished in the top three five times this season, three times as a runner up.

The 25-year-old now ranks second in strokes gained off-the-tee, eighth in driving distance and 11th in birdie average. In other words, he’s long, consistent and potentially far better than his world ranking of 32 currently suggests. He might even be an outside bet to make the American Ryder Cup team next year!

OPEN 22: Live leaderboard and highlights

A breakout round for Barclay Brown

The best-placed Englishman is an amateur? Yes, you read that right. Barclay Brown briefly held the clubhouse lead on four-under-par after having the round of his life at St Andrews.

The 21-year-old, from Sheffield, booked his place at The Open after winning the Final Qualifying event at Hollinwell and he didn’t disappoint on his debut after mixing five birdies with one bogey.

This week also happens to be the first time he’s played the Old Course since he was 10. He is currently studying at Stanford University, which lists Tiger Woods among its alumni. Like Matt Fitzpatrick, Brown learned to play the game at The Hallamshire and even partnered Fitzpatrick’s brother, Alex, in last year’s Walker Cup.

RELATED: Key stats from day one at The Open

A week off the day job for Dinwiddie

Robert Dinwiddie is a name many fans won’t have heard before, but he’ll have plenty of eyes on him for Friday’s second round after an impressive 67 (five-under) on Thursday left him in a tie for 3rd alongside Cameron Smith, Kurt Kitayama and Barclay Brown.

The 39-year-old, who was born in Dumfries but represents England, was one of the last players to head out in the opening round, but overcame tougher conditions and fading light to post an excellent score.

Dinwiddie, who secured his spot in the field via final qualifying at Fairmont St Andrews, took a step back from golf at the start of the Covid lockdown, instead working on a construction site to make ends meet.

“There was no golf and, though I was teaching a bit at the time, my friends who were in the trade and still doing essential work said ‘you can come and help us out’,” he told The Scotsman’s Martin Dempster. “I did and have been doing that for two years.

“Just a general handyman, helping out, labouring, all kind of building work, managing projects for them if they’ve got a few on the go. It’s physical but quite satisfying and I enjoy it.”

Despite that, he still considers himself a “proper golfer”, playing on the Challenge Tour, and this is his third Open, and second at St Andrews.

Dinwiddie is a three-time Challenge Tour winner who turned pro back in 2006 off the back of a stellar amateur career which saw him win the Welsh and Scottish Amateur Open Stroke Play Championships in 2005, and the English Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship (The Brabazon Trophy) in 2006, becoming the first person to hold all three titles at the same time.

His first season on the Challenge Tour saw him win twice and gain his European Tour card, where he secured five top-10 finishes and played in the US Open, finishing an impressive T36th on his Major debut.He then returned to the Challenge Tour for 2010, winning the Kenya Open and securing his place back on the European Tour, but has spent the past few seasons back in the Challenge ranks.

Dinwiddie has plenty of support at St Andrews this week with a host of his colleagues from the construction site down to watch him. Let’s hope they’ve got tickets for the weekend, too.

McIlroy aims to lose his bounce…

No, not his famous bouncy walk, but even more bounce from his 60º lob wedge. The four-time Major champ has already stripped bounce from his TaylorMade MG3 wedges but he may have to lose even more as the course starts to dry out even more.

“The fairways are so firm,” he mused after his first round 66. “And some of the lies are so bare that, again, going back to that second shot on 17, I felt like if I had a full lob wedge there and I didn’t get it quite right, then I could have thinned the thing into the middle of the town.”

Asked to compare the challenge to previous Opens, Rory admitted it’s the fiddliest course he’s ever played on the rota.

“It’s the only way I can really describe it. It’s just really fiddly out there. Carnoustie was firm in 2018, but it wasn’t like this.

“I think as the tournament progresses, you’re going to get some funny bounces and it’s going to test your patience at times. And fiddly hasn’t really been my forte over the years, but I’m hopefully going to make it my forte this week.”

RELATED: Tee times – Round 2

To help keep the ball in play off the tee this week, McIlroy has replaced his trusty 5-wood for the new TaylorMade Stealth UDI at 16º, the equivalent of a 2-iron. He is one of several players who are using it for the first time this week. You can read more about it here.

RELATED: Which TaylorMade iron is best for me?

…But gets a lucky bounce

The former World No.1 did benefit from a lucky one on the 5th hole. His mammoth drive careered into one of the ancient stones that marks the original boundary of the Old Course, bouncing back a good few yards.

The stones are covered in a plastic lid and artificial turf to protect them from the elements and, seemingly, an in-form Northern Irishman’s drives.

Justin Thomas made us all feel good about our own game

Sometimes the pros make the game look so easy. Other times they hit the same rubbish shots everyone else does. Justin Thomas kindly offered up the worst shot of the tournament so far when he topped his tee shot on the 18th hole, having just made a double-bogey on the Road Hole. Golf is hard, folks. Even for a two-time USA PGA champion!

RELATED: What’s in the bag: Justin Thomas

Tiger needs to turn back the clock to reach the weekend

The 15-time Major champion got an awful break on the very 1st hole, finding a sand divot with his tee shot before hitting his approach into the burn. Hee never quite got to grips with the pace of the greens and now admits he’ll need something very special to stand a chance of reaching the weekend and extending what is likely his last Open at St Andrews.

The 46-year-old said his leg injury hadn’t hampered his round and blamed his putting and inability to bounce back when he had chances.

“Looks like I’m going to have to shoot 66 tomorrow to have a chance,” he told us. “So obviously it has been done. Guys did it today. And that’s my responsibility tomorrow is to go ahead and do it. Need to do it.”

Lawrie makes history, MacIntyre boosts home hopes

Perhaps the most surprising stat of the day is that there are more players from Sheffield in the Open field than those who are Scottish. Paul Lawrie did at least give fans something to cheer about by eagling the last, plus he had the honour of becoming the first golfer in history to hit the opening tee shot of an Open Championship with a yellow ball. Maybe he’s going to start a trend…

There was also good news for Robert MacIntyre, who certainly needs it after a dismal run of form which has seen him slip outside the world’s top 100 and fail to post a top 10 since February.

But as he often does at the Open, the 25-year-old managed to turn it on in front of a home crowd and carded a two-under 70 to sit just outside the top 10 heading into the second round.

Road Hole hell for Els

It always gets someone and, unfortunately for Ernie Els in 2022, it was his turn to fall foul of the devilishly difficult par-4 17th.

The South African was well in contention as he arrived on the penultimate hole 4-under-par, only to make a damaging double.

“I putted nice and played good. I just had that one frickin’ tee shot on 17,” the former World No.1 said after his round. “Anyway, that’s my day.”

None-the-less, Els remains in contention at 2-under par, and the omens are definitely good – his previous Open wins coming in 2002 and 2012.

Fast course, slow rounds

Rounds were pushing the six-hour mark by the middle of the opening day – a byproduct of the fast and firm turf, the layout of the holes and the fact so many of these top players can take on the par-4 greens from the tee.

We followed Rory McIlroy’s round from inside the ropes and he, Morikawa and Schauffele had waits of up to 20 minutes on some tees, as well as playing several groups up to the greens on the short par 4s.

Rory even had time for a chat with journalists as he waited to tee off on the 5th, while Shane Lowry’s caddie Brian ‘Bo’ Martin was heard bemoaning the pace with his boss and Justin Thomas.

“It’s quite stop-start, but I think St Andrews is that way,” Mcilroy told us afterwards. “There’s a lot of crisscrossing and waiting on other greens and waiting on greens to clear because of the drivable par-4s.

“So I think, especially the first two days when it’s the full field, it’s to be expected. It is what it is. Thankfully it speeds up over the weekend and two balls gets things moving a little bit more. But I think playing this tournament, you expect it to be that way the first couple of days.”

The pace got slower in the afternoon, with Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, and Harold Varner III out on the course for six hours and 18 minutes from their first tee shot to final putt.

Tiger also noted the pace of play. “We weren’t exactly speed demons out there,” he said. “The whole round took a long time, and we were getting waved up. And it was a long, slow day.”

The final groups faced playing the 18th in rapidly fading light as 10pm ticked by.

All aboard the Tom Kim train

We like a nickname as much as the next man. But we couldn’t figure out why Joohyung Kim goes by the name of Tom until we stumbled upon an extraordinary press conference from September 2020. In it, the World No.39 from South Korea revealed he gave himself the name after… Thomas The Tank Engine. And he was being deadly serious.

“I got it from Thomas the Train when I was young,” he explained. “As I grew older, some people started calling me Tom and I thought it was just shorter and just more simple. I think by the time I was like 11 I went just by Tom. 

“My brother even calls me Tom. My friends all call me Tom, so it kind of came natural to me. I had the whole thing, I had the lunchbox, I had the toys.”

He’s now our new favourite golfer.

LIV Golf players receive hostile reception

If the LIV Golf rebels thought they were going to get an easy ride from fans at St Andrews, they were given a rude awakening on the first tee when several of them, most notably Ian Poulter, were greeted by a smattering of boos during the first round of the 150th Open.

The Englishman seemed particularly affected by the hostility as he came within a foot or two of hooking his drive out of bounds on the widest fairway in golf, but claimed afterwards that he hadn’t heard the boo boys. Either way, he bounced back by canning a monster 160ft putt for eagle on the 9th hole. That’s the equivalent of 53 yards or around five double-decker buses lined up in a row!

Westwood comes out punching

Lee Westwood wasn’t one of those booed, but he was in a combative mood as he answered questions after his opening four-under-par 68 left him in a good spot to end his wait for a first Major.

The 49-year-old was irked by questions about his LIV Golf membership and how any potential victory at St Andrews would be received, asking journalists if R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers had said he would be unhappy with that scenario, before telling them “you just made that up then”.

“So we don’t need to have that conversation, do we? I think he’ll be happy with whoever is the Champion Golfer of the Year holding the trophy aloft on Sunday night because they’ll have played the best.

“And that’s what the R&A want from this championship. They want the best player to win, regardless of what Tour they play on.”

Westwood also said he wants to play in the BMW PGA Championship if he’s allowed to and responded to Tiger’s criticism of LIV Golf, before making a thinly veiled dig.

“Yeah, and he’s got a vested interest, hasn’t he?” the Ryder Cup legend said. “The LIV players will talk up LIV. The PGA TOUR players that aren’t on the LIV Tour will talk the PGA Tour up and put down the LIV tour.”

“Tiger’s entitled to his opinion. I respect Tiger as a golfer. He’s one of the two best golfers that’s ever played the game.”

Justin Rose and Erik van Rooyen pull out

Justin Rose was always going to be the odd one out in a group containing Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood but he didn’t even make it to the first tee after being forced to withdraw with a lower back injury. Alex Noren should have been the first alternate but since he’s elected to play in the Barracuda Championship in California, Japanese star Rikuya Hoshino benefitted from the last-minute call-up instead.

Englishman Aaron Rai, who slept in his car last night, also replaced Erik van Rooyen after the South African was forced to pull out with a neck injury.

Knuckle ball

Charlie Kane, who produces social media for the PGA Tour, learned the importance of listening for shouts of “fore” while on the course the hard way.

He took a Rory McIlroy drive to the knuckle of his left hand during Wednesday’s practice round, resulting in a trip to the local hospital, where an X-Ray revealed it had been fractured.

Thankfully for Charlie, after being strapped up and put in a sling, he was back at the course for the tournament’s start. And, yes, Rory did check on him!

Fashionable or frightful?

Justin Thomas turned plenty of heads (and sparked plenty of social media debate) by rocking a joggers and hoodie combo. We were big fans of the look, but it appears the golfing gods weren’t! ⬇️

We also saw Phil Mickelson wearing a T-shirt and Rory McIlroy paying tribute to a lemon meringue pie with his ensemble which is blending in with the burnt-out fairways at St Andrews.

But John Daly has surely won the worst dressed award by turning up in flowery trousers with skulls on them. Old Tom Morris would not have approved.

THE OPEN 2022: RECAP FROM THE FIRST THREE DAYS…

Slumbers slams LIV

R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers issued a thinly-veiled threat over LIV Golf members’ future hopes of playing in The Open after describing the Saudi-backed organisation as “entirely driven by money”.

Slumbers also revealed the Championship will be reviewing its exemptions and qualification criteria ahead of next year’s Open at Royal Liverpool. You can read the full story here.

RELATED: How can I get tickets to the 2023 Open Championship at Hoylake

New memberships for three of golf’s greats

Paul Lawrie has a lot to smile about this week. The 1999 Open champion has been given the honour of hitting the opening tee shot tomorrow and now he’s become one of three golfers to accept an honorary membership into The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The others? Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. Something tells us Phil Mickelson and Greg Norman might have to wait a little longer to receive the same honour.

“I’m honoured to accept this invitation and to do that alongside Rory and Tiger is extra special,” said Lawrie.

Tiger added: “I am grateful for this invitation to become an honorary member of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. It is not only the home of golf but a place in this world that I hold near my heart. I am humbled to accept this invitation alongside these outstanding players today, as well as those who came before us.”

RELATED: Seven things to do in St Andrews this week

No Road Hole fears for Rory

McIlroy gave the crowds plenty of reasons to cheer on Wednesday as he putted from the road from which the 17^th hole derives its name, before holing a lengthy putt. What he’d give for a few successful up-and-downs there over the next few days.

Cam Smith to employ Bryson’s grip it and rip it strategy

The course is firm and fast, and the wind is set to blow. That means the players will rein it in and play nice and sensibly from the tee, right? Wrong – at least for Cam Smith. Asked which holes he found particularly difficult, the Aussie replied “all of them”, and said he’s had particular difficulty holding the fairways with any club.

How will he combat that come the tournament? He plans to hit a lot of drivers and not worry about hitting fairways. “Get it as far down there as I can and hope I find a good lie.”

Scottie Scheffler can’t get enough links golf

The World No.1 is leaving no stone unturned in his quest for Open glory. Having played a pretty testing practice round in the strong winds on the Old Course on Tuesday, he then headed straight off to Carnoustie – arguably the toughest course on The Open rota – to play another 18 holes. The Masters champ slotted in between the members for a twilight knock.

RELATED: Best links courses in Great Britain & Ireland

LIV Golf high on the agenda in OGWR board meeting

Not a day goes by without some kind of LIV Golf controversy. It has now been confirmed by Peter Dawson, former CEO of the R&A and current Chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking (OGWR), that they have received an application from LIV Golf for its inclusion in its ranking system.

The application was discussed by the board during a meeting at St Andrews on the eve of the 150th Open Championship. Bosses at LIV Golf believe they meet various criteria to earn ranking points, but they face a tough task to convince representatives of the four major championships, plus PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monbahan and DP World Tour chief Keith Pelley, who all sit on the board. 

RELATED: PGA Tour and DP World Tour ‘strategic alliance’ explained

As things stand, the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau do not collect ranking points for playing in the LIV Golf Invitationals. There’s now a genuine concern among the Saudi rebels that their ability to compete in major championships could be compromised if LIV fails to obtain world ranking recognition. 

Martin Slumbers, Augusta National’s Buzzy Johnson, Mike Whan of the USGA and the PGA of America’s Seth Waugh are expected to be key in the decision making. 

Bryson DeChambeau has lost another sponsor

Poor old Bryson can’t catch a break. First Rocket Mortgage dropped him in June after he jumped ship to join LIV Golf, and now his ball sponsor Bridgestone have confirmed that they’ve ended their relationship after six years together.

RELATED: Everything you need to know about LIV Golf

We understand that DeChambeau will continue to play his normal ball for this year’s final men’s Major before considering his options.

Patrick Reed’s LIV Golf love-in reaches new low

Who needs Greg Norman around when you’ve got Patrick Reed sporting not one but three LIV Golf logos on his apparel. One on his cap and two on his shirt. The man is a walking billboard!

We could almost hear the R&A members choking on their cucumber sandwiches as the American practised his putting outside their clubhouse on Wednesday afternoon. Reed holed putt after putt, while wearing one headphone – presumably a direct line from Captain Norman’s Saudi-backed bunker.

It’ll make for a frosty reception should Reed be handed the Claret Jug come Sunday evening.

Tiger quashes retirement talk

When Woods suggested this could be his last Open at St Andrews, many assumed he was hinting at an imminent retirement, but the 15-time Major Champion quickly brushed off that idea. “Who, me? Retiring? No!” Woods laughed.

The 2000 and 2005 St Andrews champ didn’t hit the course on Wednesday (he’s already walked 58 holes so far this week), opting instead to let his body rest and just practise on the range and putting green.

We’ve also spotted a new addition in his bag to help him hit his trademark stinger; the TaylorMade P770 3-iron. You can read more about it here.

RELATED: The Open legends: Tiger Woods

Ping unveils your short game solution

Let’s be honest, chippers don’t have the best reputation. They don’t look especially cool and have always been associated with high handicap golfers who lack confidence in their short game – even though lots of players swear by them.

But in this more tolerant world Ping say now is the perfect time to swallow your pride and resurrect the idea, believing even decent golfers can benefit from chipping with a putting motion more often. 

So, in a throwback to yesteryear when the original Ping ChipO was seen as a guaranteed strokesaver, Ping are introducing the ChipR to help ‘bump up your confidence’ around the green this summer.

Ping claims up to a third of golfers are likely to benefit from using their modernised chipper, which has the length of the putter and a loft closer to a 9-iron.

The part-wedge, part-putter design is intended to be used on shots within 40 yards of the green from the rough or fringe, resulting in bump-and-run style shots that make chunks and thins a thing of the past. 

We reckon it could be just as helpful for you as it might be for Viktor Hovland. You can read our full review here.

Team Faldo wins Celebration of Champions

Sir Nick Faldo’s Team won the first Celebration of Champions on the Old Course last night. Faldo partnered former Open Champions Zach Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen and John Daly in the four-hole challenge, where teams took the best two scores from each hole. The fourball posted six under and finished three clear, with Team Davies – led by Dame Laura Davies – and Team Woods both claiming a share of second. 

Callaway’s staff bag designer is a schoolgirl

Callaway revealed its unique Open Staff Bag last night, designed by a young student from St Andrews, that will be used by its 34 players at this week’s tournament.

Budding artists from two St Andrews schools – Madras College and St Leonards – were commissioned by Callaway and St Andrews Links to design a St Andrews inspired golf bag, and 17-year-old Iona Turner had her winning design chosen by Callaway executives, from a shortlist of 10.

Iona’s winning design features iconic Scottish themes like the Loch Ness monster (under the Swilcan Bridge), bagpipes made from golf clubs and thistles for zippers. 

As an extension of the design challenge, giant sculptures of the final 10, celebrating the creative excellence of pupils from each school, have been positioned across various locations around St Andrews.

These specially-commissioned sculptures have formed a new attraction known as The Big Bag Trail, a route from which locals and visitors can explore the town. It remains open until Sunday – and the supersized bags will be auctioned off with all proceeds going to CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland) and Scottish Sports Futures (Changing Lives Through Sport).

RELATED: The story behind Callaway’s St Andrews tour bag

Jack Nicklaus made Honorary St Andrews Citizen

Jack Nicklaus called time on his major career at the Old Course in 2005 – but he’s returned this year to pick up another special title; Honorary Citizen of St Andrews.

Nicklaus, a three-time Open winner, won two of his Claret Jugs at the Old Course, in 1970 and 1978. 

He said: “I declined to come back the last couple of times to St Andrews, because it made my farewell in 2005, and I didn’t want to come back and dilute that for what it was,” Nicklaus said. “But when I got the invitation this time to be an honorary citizen of St Andrews and to follow Bobby Jones and Benjamin Franklin, I’ve got to come back. So to be back is fantastic.”

The citizenship is the fourth distinction Nicklaus has been granted at the Home of Golf. He was made an honorary member of St. Andrews Golf Club following his victory in 1978, and he was also granted a doctorate by the University of St Andrews six years later. He became an honorary member of the R&A in 1990.

A special ceremony was held in his honour by The Royal Burgh of St. Andrews Community Council on Tuesday afternoon and included a procession through the streets, which attracted thousands of well wishes.

Also part of the parade were Lee Trevino, José María Olazabal, Catriona Matthew, Sir Bob Charles and Sandy Lyle, who all received honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews in recognition of their achievements and outstanding service to the game of golf.

RELATED: Exclusive: Jack Nicklaus on returning to St Andrews, Tiger, mentoring Rory and LIV Golf

Nicklaus is not worried about record low scores

Rock hard conditions, warm weather and little wind in the forecast have led some to suggest the Old Course is at the mercy of the world’s best this year. But Jack Nicklaus says he isn’t bothered by the prospect of record low scoring. 

“Might shoot low, so what? They’re shooting low now compared to what they shot 100 years ago. Times change and golfers get better, equipment gets better, and conditions get better. 

“Shoot low scores, but I don’t think it really makes a whole lot of difference frankly. It’s St Andrews and it is what it is, and it will produce a good champion. It always has – that’s the way I look at it.”

Branden Grace, who is a notable absentee this week after failing to qualify, holds the lowest round in major history; a 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017. The Old Course is fairly short by modern standards, at just over 7,300 yards, with many of the par-4s driveable.

Rory sums up the conditions

“Everyone’s seen how firm and fast the fairways are. The weather looks pretty similar for the rest of the week. The greens still have a very firm first bounce, but they’re receptive if you hit a well-enough-struck iron shot. 

“It’s a lot more of a strategic golf course when it plays like this. Even like the drive, I hit on the 2nd hole yesterday – and that pin’s in the middle of the green. I felt like I couldn’t hit a chip shot that close, so I putted it from 60 yards.

“You’ll see a lot of that this week. If you hit a lot of drivers, you may get close to some of these greens, and it would be advantageous to lay back and give yourself fuller wedge shots into some of these greens.”

RELATED: Rory – “I wish every Open was at St Andrews”

Rahm on the dangers of going right… 

You can hit it left off the tee all day on the Old Course and stay out of trouble. You won’t have the best angles into the greens though, but often the tighter you go to the trouble, the better your approach angle to the green.

That’s the beauty of St Andrews – and it’s not lost on Jon Rahm. He said: “I played it for the first time in 2019, at the Dunhill. I didn’t have my best swing that day, and usually, when I’m swinging badly, I’m missing right. The front nine was left-to-right wind like today, but it was into. I think I hit it into every single right-hand bunker on the front nine. Don’t hit it right. That’s the one thing I learned.

“Whatever wind conditions you get and whatever wind direction you get can change this golf course drastically. You have to know when to dial it back, when to be aggressive, and what holes you have to take the right line on and what holes you can bail out left off the tee.

“You can go left all day, but for certain pin locations and certain winds, you’re really going to truly short-side yourself. So you have to take your chances at the right time.”

Mizuno unveils new irons

Mizuno has revealed 1,221 sets of gorgeous Pro 221 muscleback irons in a stunning blue IP finish here at St Andrews. The irons, which will be available in the autumn, boast a smoky blue plating, an exclusive staff banded ‘icon’ ferrule, MCC Teams Blue/White grips, and a custom labelled DG Tour Issue S400 shaft. 

Latest Open odds… Rory is the favourite

11/1 Rory McIlroy 
14/1 Xander Schauffele
18/1 Jon Rahm; Jordan Spieth; Matt Fitzpatrick; Scottie Scheffler;
20/1 Justin Thomas
25/1 Collin Morikawa; Shane Lowry; Will Zalatoris 
28/1 Cameron Smith; Patrick Cantlay
33/1 Dustin Johnson; Tommy Fleetwood; Tyrrell Hatton
35/1 Brooks Koepka;
40/1 Louis Ooosthuizen; Hideki Matsuyama; Sam Burns; Viktor Hovland; 
45/1 Joaquin Niemann
50/1 Justin Rose; Tony Finau
60/1 Tiger Woods
66/1 Bryson DeChambeau; Ryan Fox; Sungjae Im
80/1 Adam Scott; Cameron Young; Marc Leishman; Robert MacIntyre
90/1 Billy Horschel; Patrick Reed
100/1 Paul Casey; Sergio Garcia; Webb Simpson
125/1 Danny Willett; Padraig Harrington
150/1 Francesco Molinari; Lee Westwood
200/1 Henrik Stenson; Ian Poulter; Phil Mickelson
250/1 Richard Bland; Zach Johnson
300/1 Marcus Armitage
1,000/1 Darren Clarke; Paul Lawrie; John Daly

*William Hill odds correct as of 12.30pm on July 11, 2022

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Lee Trevino’s quote of the day

“Even though I love Tiger and I love Rory, Georgia Hall impressed me the most,” Trevino said with his patented laugh. “Now I know why she won all those tournaments. She can hit it. Holy moly, I’m glad she wasn’t playing the senior tour, I’d never won a tournament.”

Tiger Woods isn’t a fan of the LIV Golf tour