St Andrews and the Open Championship go hand in hand – photo R&A

I have heard it so often and it happened to me.

On arrival in St Andrews for the very first time in 1973, I was a little underwhelmed by what I saw. I was there to caddy for the now late Australian golfer, Bob Shearer, at the Scottish Open in July of that year and after our first practice round I was struggling to understand just what all the fuss was about.

Admittedly, even though by then I had caddied in 20 or so tournaments and three of those for wins by Jumbo Ozaki and John Lister, I was still (at the age of 19) developing an understanding of golf courses and learning what made good golf courses good and vice versa.

By the end of that very first week at St Andrews, however, I had fallen in love with the not only the golf course but the township of St Andrews itself and, looking back now, it had opened my eyes to the subtleties of links golf and just how a golf course which had staged its first Open Championship 100 years earlier, could still offer such intrigue and strategic demands. Another 49 years on, despite the changing face of golf technology, it still does.

Shearer finished 14^th that week with a score of 9 over par, the winner being a man who I would go on to caddy for on many occasions, Graham Marsh, his winning score of 2 under par 286, giving him a six-shot victory over the superb English golfer, Peter Oosterhuis.

What I learnt that week was that the demands and difficulty of links golf on any given day are very much determined by the overhead elements as much as the layout which is being played, but also that a golf course which had, at that point, seen not a lot of change over so many years was still capable of challenging some of the world’s best.

When playing St Andrews you might walk past a bunker one day and wonder just why anyone would bother to put a bunker in a certain position and the next day you could well find yourself in the middle of that bunker. Certainly not unique to St Andrews, admittedly, but typical of links golf generally with those variations subject to changing conditions daily and at times even during the course of any one day where the changing tide, from the adjacent North Sea in St Andrews’ case, can influence the direction and strength of the winds.

It was not only the golf course that left an indelible mark on me at the time, it was the township itself, so full of the history of golf and education (it is a university town) and character and that I was there in the middle of summer, that made it such a fun place to be for a young impressionable man with a passion for golf, life and history.

In mid-summer, daylight lasts to 10.30 pm or so in that region and I can recall in the days when caddies were required to survey the pin positions each morning, going out after a few beers at the 19^th alongside the 18^th to get the pin positions for the following day after they had been cut, or pinpointed at least, that evening.

In more recent years, pin positions have been made available to all on the first tee at all events avoiding an armada of caddies wandering around the golf course early in the morning viewing and sourcing such information, but having the opportunity of doing so late in the evening was another special memory I have for the venue.

The first time the Open Championship was played over 72 holes at St Andrews the winning score was 322 and it is interesting to see the progression in scores since. 300 was broken for the first time in James Braid’s 5^th Open Championship victory in 1910 (299) and in general scores have continued to lower since.

Tiger Woods’ remarkable victory in 2000, when he produced a 19 under par score of 269 is still the lowest winning total at St Andrews. Woods not once visited one of The Old Course’s, at times, notorious bunkers throughout his 72 holes. It must still go down as one of one of Wood’s most emphatic and clinical victories.

Woods won by 8 shots over Thomas Bjorn that week and even though he won the US Open a few weeks earlier by 15 shots his effort at St Andrews was him at his very best.

The history, mystique, intrigue, design subtlety and longevity of the golf course along with its standing as the Home of Golf and the history surrounding the town itself, make St Andrews a must visit for all golf fans and this year’s 150^th staging of the Open Championship is one of those week’s that those who get to be on site will forever look back and say ‘I was there’.

Xander Schauffele – photo Getty Images / DP World Tour

Cameron Smith staged an impressive weekend recovery over a windswept Renaissance Club at the Genesis Scottish Open and has finished in a share of 10th in the lead-up to this coming week’s Open Championship.

Smith’s second round of 75 cost him any chance of contending for the title but he bounced back over the weekend to move from 49th to 10th over the final 36 holes and will no doubt head up the road to St Andrews feeling good about his game.

The tournament was won by Olympic Gold Medal winner, Xander Schauffele, who continues his recent form having won at his last start at the Travelers Championship last month and the Pro Am event in Ireland last week and he must now enter calculations as a genuine chance for success at the 150th open Championship.

Schauffele will move from his current 11th place in the world ranking to 5th given the strength of this week”s field

Schauffele was delighted to have been the first player to win an event jointly sanctioned between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour of America.

“It’s great to win the first event that’s co-sanctioned between the two tours. It was an incredible week. Genesis has always put on — the tournaments I have played they have always put on incredible events and I knew this was going to be no different and what an honour to win in the Home of Golf.

“I’m playing some of the best golf of my life and capitalising on playing really well. There’s a lot of times all the top players, any player playing professionally plays very well but they don’t get everything out of it and I feel like I’ve been successful in getting the most out of my game.”

Looking ahead to next week Schauffele was asked how he felt about heading to St Andrews.

“To be honest, a bit rushed. I’ve never played St Andrews. I’ve never played the Old Course South so a lot of homework to do.

“I have to use this time, going down at eleven o’clock at night to my advantage to try to prepare to the best of my ability. Going to rely a lot on my caddie to do that. I’m tired. I’ve played a bit and I need a rest and I need to get ready for the week. I’m not even thinking about Sunday quite yet. I need to prepare.”

Smith headed the Australians in 10th place but Jason Scrivener also had a good week when he finished just one shot behind Smith and in a share of 16th place.

Scrivener produced the best of the day final round of 65 to jump 37 places and he too now heads to St Andrews for just his second start at The Open Championship, earning over 100,000 euro for his effort this week.

Ryan Fox finished 47th after a final round of 69.

RESULTS

 

Cameron Tringale in action today – photo Getty Images DP World Tour

Despite being the 54^th ranked golfer in the world, 34 year old American Cameron Tringale has yet to win on the PGA Tour but he has opened up that possibility by taking a three shot lead over Gary Woodland and Doug Ghim at the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick as the event heads into the weekend.

Tringale was 11 shots worse on day two than his brilliant opening 61 but it was enough to retain his opening round three shot lead as the gusty wins buffeting the links layout took their toll on a field which included 14 of the 15 leading ranked world players in the game.

“Well, it was definitely more difficult for me today,” said the leader. “Yesterday, it seemed pretty easy, and today, it seemed like every hole was a grind to make par.

“I can’t speak for everyone but my group struggled. Long putts, it’s so tough to judge how much the wind is going to hurt, and then you get a putt that’s where the wind is going sideways, and I mean, it might be a ball, two, a cup, even as close as seven, eight feet.”

Tringale has been on the PGA Tour since 2010 and has earned more then US$17 million but that first win at this level has proven to be elusive. This week’s Scottish Open is for the first time a full sanctioned event on both the PGA and DP World Tours so it may yet be that this week provides that milestone.

Despite not winning Tringale has been runner-up on four occasions and four times third in PGA Tour events so a breakthrough win would be justice for the Californian.

The round of the day came from Xander Schaufelle whose 5 under 65 jumped him 65 positions to a share of 4^th and he is now just four from the lead after beginning round two eleven shot behind Tringale.

New Zealander Ryan Fox was another to benefit from a strong second round, his 2 under 68 moving him from outside the top 100 to 38^th and inside the cutline after appearing as if he might have the weekend off.

Also in 38^th place is Jason Scrivener while Cameron Smith in 49^th place is the only other Australasian to make the cut in 49^th place at 3 over and ten shots behind Tringale. Smith struggled to a round of 75 but has a chance over the weekend to sharpen his game for what lies ahead at St Andres next week.

Lucas Herbert missed the final 36 holes by one, Marc Leishman by two, Scott Hend by six, defending champion Min Woo Lee by eight and Maverick Antcliff by a massive 15 shots.

SCORES

Min Woo Lee – with last year’s trophy but no PGA Tour card then – photo DP World Tour Getty Images

This week’s Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick offers an opportunity to not only win one of the European Tour’s more significant events, but, for the first time in the history of the event it provides the winner with a PGA Tour card.

The now closer alliance between the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour has resulted in a cross pollination of several events between the tours and this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, the Barabasol Championship in Kentucky and next week’s Barracuda Championship in California all now count toward both order of merit tables.

In a practical sense as far as this week’s Genesis Scottish Open is concerned, is that a victory would open the door to the riches of the PGA Tour for someone who does not already hold a PGA Tour card.

Several Australasians including defending champion Min Woo Lee will be keen to emulate his massive performance of twelve months ago when he defeated Matthew Fitzpatrick and Thomas Detry in a playoff to win €1,123,300 and jump from 240^th to 61^st in the world ranking at the time.

The one thing Lee did not gain last year however but could in 2022 is a PGA Tour card as a result of his victory and although he has been able to play nine events in the USA this year, Lee has still to earn playing rights on the PGA Tour.

“The Australian’s play-off success last year was his second DP World Tour victory, following his win on home soil at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in 2020, as he finished last season inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking,” said the DP World Tour.

“On his debut at the Masters Tournament in April, Lee shot a record-tying front nine of six-under-par 30 in the final round to finish tied 15th at Augusta National Golf Club.”

“Last year at the Renaissance Club was such an awesome experience, said Lee. “I was proud of my game on Sunday and how I closed out the play-off for my first Rolex Series title,” he said. “It was a huge win and opened up even more experiences, like playing in The Open for the first time the following week. My aim is to keep my hands on that trophy this season.”

Ryan Fox is another who is in a similar situation this week given his recent form and that he has been inside the top six on two occasions in this event previously. His near miss last week in Ireland continued an outstanding season for the 35-year-old and if he could find a way tow in he would gain full playing rights on the PGA Tour.

With 14 of the leading 15 ranked players in the field it is not about to be an easy task but that could have been said prior to Min Woo Lee’s win last year also although this is a stronger field in 2022.

Other Australasians in the field are Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Jason Scrivener, Scott Hend and Maverick Antcliff with Scrivener, Hend and Antcliff all without PGA Tour status at this stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Australian’s play-off success was his second DP World Tour victory, following his win on home soil at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in 2020, as he finished last season inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking. On his debut at the Masters Tournament in April, Lee shot a record-tying front nine of six-under-par 30 in the final round to finish tied 15th at Augusta National Golf Club. “Last year at the Renaissance Club was such an awesome experience. I was proud of my game on Sunday and how I closed out the play-off for my first Rolex Series title,” he said. “It was a huge win and opened up even more experiences, like playing in The Open for the first time the following week. My aim is to keep my hands on that trophy this season.”

Cameron Davis – file photo Bruce Young

US based Sydney golfer, Cameron Davis, recorded his 4^th PGA Tour top ten of 2022 when he finished in a share of 8^th at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

Davis’ last round of 68 improved his standing from an overnight 10^th but it was a frustrating run for him over the final nine holes as missed several makeable opportunities in a run of ten straight pars to finish after starting with three birdies in his first eight holes.

The weekend at the TPC Deere Run was significantly better than that he produced a week ago in Hartford, having contended there early before a disappointing final 36 holes.

Davis will move to 81^st in the Fedex Cup standing and with just a month to go until the finals begin in just over one month’s time he is well placed to progress into well into the final stages of the FedEx Cup.

The 2016 World Amateur Individual Champion and a member of the Australian winning Eisenhower Trophy team that same year would win the 2017 Australian Open just over a year later and made his way on to the PGA Tour for the 2019 season.

The 27-year old’s PGA Tour career earnings to date are now beyond US$5.5 million but he is clearly improving each year and appears to be well established as a PGA Tour member and on track for a very successful career.

The winner J.T. Poston won his second PGA Tour title having won the Wyndham Championship in 2019 and he also earns a start at the Open Championship as a result of his top three finish of those not otherwise qualified for St Andrews along with Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Emiliano Grillo.

SCORES