The 150th Open Championship begins tomorrow and the sense of history is something that shouldn’t be lost on any golf fan looking at the current professional landscape.
It is a celebration of all that has gone before us as we look forward to the oldest and most famous major, played out at the home of golf.
That very title does add to the prestige and history this week.
READ MORE: History beckons for Seamus Power on Open debut
It will resonate with every player as they go to sleep tonight.
I was fortunate to play in two Open Championships and it is a tournament like no other.
It is also the final major of the year and all the posturing and preparation to try and win one of the four ends here. This is the last chance saloon and that also adds to the sense of occasion.
There will be many storylines pre-tournament, wonderful tales about the qualifiers and the stars.
Ronan Mullarney came through regional and final qualifying while David Carey also earned his way through the qualifiers. Both will tee it up in their first major.
It is a great boost as they get a break from the mini tours. I wish them well and hopefully weekend work is the fruit of their labour.
They do bolster the Irish presence because at the other end we have three very strong candidates for victory in Seamus Power, Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy – and there is also the dream of a potential Padraig Harrington victory.
Rory will be the headline act and short favourite for the tournament. He will feel like this is his best opportunity to add another major, because of course history and current form.
Rory has been waiting since 2014 to add to his four majors.
It really doesn’t seem right that this is the case, but facts are stubborn, and all those questions will remain until he gets the monkey off his back.
I always fancy Rory come major week and especially at St Andrews – 2010 proved he can dominate the course outside of one poor round in awful conditions. His absence in 2015 through injury adds spice.
The draw is always a factor for links golf, and he will need some luck in that department.
I feel that the progress with his wedges could be the difference this week.
Shane Lowry will have huge aspirations and his course form, with a 69.2 stroke average, is something to give him serious hope to add another major.
The weight of expectation on his shoulders is something he is becoming more comfortable with.
They say the second major is harder to win but the emotion of Portrush and successfully dealing with the trying conditions is a wonderful experience for Lowry to draw upon.
Stars could feel burden
So many of the greats have won around St Andrews and that does bring extra pressure.
All the talk is about money in the game at the moment but this week the opportunity to go down in folklore outweighs anything that money can buy.
It will be a tough challenge for players to cope with this very fact.
The 12th tee inwards is a march home with the famous town of St Andrews in your sights, with the glory and sense of history that accompanies it.
It is a goosebumps walk on the final nine holes of any major but this one is even more special.
The fantastic thing too is that this week and venue always spring a surprise.
Who will steal the limelight from the stars this week?
Paul Dunne had the 54 hole lead as an amateur in 2015 and gave us all a week to remember.
Zach Johnson was the champion in 2015.
Even though he was a Masters champion, he upset the odds to claim victory at the expense of 2010 winner Louis Oosthuizen, so he will relish the return this week in what could be a significant week for the LIV players as that controversy rolls on.
Every tournament loves a mix of an unlikely winner along with the star players, especially when it is career-changing.
With the forecast this week we are in for a fair championship, and it should be a marvellous spectacle.
The biggest talking points will finally be about the last major of the year.
At a time when professional golf has been turned on its head because of the Saudi cash injection, the sense of history this week is something that can’t ever be matched.
Hot-shots Schauffele & Scheffler no sure things
The hottest player now is Xander Schauffele and he will be trying to continue his incredible form.
I fancied him strongly last week but maybe trying to do a Phil Mickelson in 2013 and win both the Scottish and Open championship is a big ask on top of his Travellers win, too.
It is just simple mathematics – you cannot win them all.
Lately, we have seen a cooling off with Scottie Scheffler after his purple patch.
That is not to say that they can’t win but maybe a fresher, less battle-weary golfer could steal a victory.
I really like an outsider to come through as I always feel that the weight of history tends to burden the stars that bit more.
We may not see Woods for the tees much longer
Tiger Woods could be making his final walk around the hallowed turf of St Andrews.
He just doesn’t look like his body will allow it to do what he wants.
The simple truth is that he is lucky to be as healthy as he is.
He could have died in that car crash in February 2021.
He is too great a competitor to be a ceremonial player and if he cannot contend at the business end of tournaments, I don’t think we will see that much of him going forward.
If this is his swansong there is no finer place to finish your career.
I hope his body allows his golf to shine through this week but busting a gut to be making cuts is not what the GOAT is about.
The game has been unbelievable to Tiger and the very fact that he can still be on our screens is something to cherish.
Best bets
Corey Conners 66/1 The under the radar Canadian could spring a surprise.
Danny Willett 125/1 He has a tendency not to contradict his form and could have a big week.
Jordan Spieth 16/1 His ability to craft a round might be his secret at St Andrews.
Max Homa 80/1 Last week proved a solid links learning experience for the American.
Joaquin Nienmann 40/1 My pick of the young guns who carry hopes at the home of golf.
Tyrrell Hatton 33/1 Double winner around the Old Lady can only help his hopes.
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