adminGLASGOW. – “Here he comes,” gasped an excited youngster, scrambling up to a barrier behind the R&A clubhouse, phone in hand ready to snap a limping legend as he trudged towards a conveniently parked courtesy car.
Tiger Woods had just prompted the first roar of Open week, ending his practice round by driving the 18th green on the Old Course at St Andrews – his putt for eagle came up a fraction short.
Not that you would have known he had completed his round in such fine style if you witnessed the 46-year-old’s unsteady and weary walk towards the vehicle waiting to spirit him away.
All reasonable logic suggests that Woods will not be a factor when the 150th Open is decided next Sunday evening. But there remains no doubt he is the player most fans, young and old, still want to see.
And Woods is where he wants to be, at his favourite golf course located at the home of golf. It was only Sunday, with three full days of practice to come but he was still sending a buzz through the old grey town.
That electricity will pulse through the week when an extraordinary and youthful crop of the world’s leading players will seek to emulate the feats of Woods when he dominated the championships of 2000 and 2005 among 15 major victories.
Scottie Scheffler, the current world’s best player, was taking advantage of his missed cut at the Scottish Open with an initial recce of the planet’s most revered golf course.
At the fourth he teed it up low, his driver hovering behind the ball before accidentally knocking it from its peg. Not one of the tiny knot of spectators resorted to the most hackneyed golf wisecrack by stating “one”.
This is a place where respect prevails and those fans were then treated to a gloriously faded drive, setting off left in the clear blue skies before landing and running to the perfect spot in the fairway.
And that is a key dimension to this historic championship. The Old Course is in shape to play at its best.
Fast and firm. It will be a running game, exploiting contours, avoiding bunkers kind of week. Just as it was when golf was first played in these parts centuries ago.
There are fears these modern superstars will tear apart this glorious golfing land. Both par five holes are potentially accessible in two, while par-four holes such as the sixth, ninth, 10th, 12th and 18th may be drivable. An overall par of 72 is generous.
But with a bit of breeze, which is forecast, it will still be a test. It will definitely be the canniest who will get the job done.
That was the way with Woods in 2000 where he plotted with such precision. It was arguably his greatest performance. He won by eight shots to claim the second leg of the “Tiger Slam”.
The Old Course has a happy knack of identifying the best players in the world.
Aside from Woods, Jack Nicklaus won twice here, Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo, Peter Thomson, Bobby Locke and Bobby Jones are proof that the best prosper in Fife. – BBC Sport.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter