The British Open is The Open to Win
St. Andrews’ celebrates 150 years with this year’s British Open Championship getting under way today after poor weather conditions beat down Wednesday’s Champion’s Challenge. Media attention surrounds this Open, often known simply as The Open, more than any other major golf tournament and every golfer admits that the British Open is the biggest honour to win.
With the unpredictability of golf played on the world’s oldest greens at Links’ golf and the similar impulsiveness of the weather, it makes one wonder why golfers see The Open as the Open to win.
Nostalgia
One key factor is probably the nostalgia that comes with such a historic display, especially this year at St. Andrews’ infamous course. Having veteran players like Tom Watson and Tom Morris contending for the Claret Jug (which dates back to 1873 and spews British heritage from its name alone) certainly adds to the nostalgic appeal.
If you look up the 18th fairway to the Old Course toward the clubhouse, you see the Swilcan bridge, a vision that makes it virtually impossible not to imagine the course how it was over a century ago.
History & Mixed Feelings
History is definitely a reason fans love to watch The Open, and let’s face it, the more history attached to an event, the more prestige and respect is attached to the golfer who wins it. The actual town of St. Andrews itself goes back over six hundred years when only a University founded in 1413 and a big slab of land marked its earth. The course was thereafter built 150 years ago this year and was as difficult to play then as it is now.
The St. Andrews’ course in particular is filled with historical gloating rights and some quirks that make it interesting. The Old Course is renowned as the birthplace of golf and every serious golfer is assumed to be setting his sights on it from day one of a professional career run.
The first transcribed event of golf being played on its Old Course greens was in 1574. The newer, but still very very old greens were laid in 1895.
This is the 28th time St. Andrews has hosted the British Open and although it is a much sought after win, after playing the course, golfers often go one way or another in how they feel about it.
Tiger Woods told the St-Petersburg Times: “I fell in love with it the first time I ever played it,” while Scott Hoch confirmed that it was the “worst piece of mess I’ve ever played.”
We’ll see how Woods feels if the stormy weather that halted proceedings on Wednesday continues to plague the greens throughout The Open with weather much worse than he faced when he won at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005.
Entertainment Value
Another reason fans love The Open is that the entertainment value far surpasses any other major tournament. It is easy to spot The Open on television. Holes for bunkers mark the treeless, almost brown gargantuan greens.
The weather also gives it away. Golfers rarely find easy breezes and sunshine at The Open. British weather is constantly threatening or succeeding to interfere with favourite golfers’ swings rendering it as entertaining to watch as it is frustrating.
Full Coverage
The media frenzy surrounding The Open ads to its entertainment value as well. This point is good for both fans and golfers alike. More coverage is good for household names like Phil Mickelson and Woods who are undoubtedly going to sport their favourite endorsements in front of many awaiting photographers.
The more coverage means more fans watching which is good for sales and great for fans. The British Open is on throughout the day with at least six hours of full reporting.
Because They Said So
Finally, of you win The Open, you are not the British Open Champion, you are “The Golf Champion.” Not a bad title after winning one tournament. And the titles have stuck with golfers and fans alike, demonstrating that The Open is clearly the Open to win.
Tags: