A record crowd of 290,000 is expected on the east coast of Scotland for this historic edition of the world’s oldest golf tournament, coming to the Old Course for the 30th time.
With good weather expected to continue for much of the week, it is turning out to be a fitting way to mark a historic British Open, even as play continues to be shaken by the fallout from the breakaway LIV Series.
Players attending the Saudi-backed tour were allowed by Open organizers to participate, just as they were at the US Open last month, while both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour are moving to ban rebels.
That means four-time major winners Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and former Open champion Phil Mickelson will all meet on Thursday.
McIlroy, however, is aiming to end his eight-year wait to add to his four major titles and is the Northern Irishman favorite in the eyes of bookmakers.
“I think it’s the holy grail of our sport. So a lot of people won’t get a chance to get it, but winning the Open at St. Andrews is what it is,” McIlroy said on Tuesday.
The world number two won the 2014 Open in Hoylek, but a year later missed his chance to defend his title at St Andrews after suffering an ankle injury while playing football.
“I can’t go in here thinking it might be my time. I just have to go out and play a really good tournament,” he said.
– ‘A magical place’ – McIlroy will go out in the first round on Thursday alongside Colin Morikawa, winner of last year’s Open at the Royal St George, and Xander Schoffele, winner of last weekend’s Scottish Open.
There is no shortage of contenders in the big contingent of American stars, including world number one Scotty Schaffler and 2017 Open winner Jordan Spieth.
“If you’re not getting excited about playing at this Open, I’m not sure it’s the right game for you,” Spieth said on Tuesday. Can pose.
There has been some discussion here of the Old Course being too easy, 149 years after the first Open, but it still entices players.
They will continue to be particularly challenged by the par-4 17th – the road hole is one of the most difficult in golf, where players must send their tee shots over the Old Course Hotel.
Jack Nicklaus, a two-time Open champion here and who became an honorary citizen of the city this week, called St Andrews “a magical place”.
– Woods hits out at LIV rebels – Woods, now 46, won here in 2000 and 2005 and was determined to return despite serious leg injuries in a car accident last year.
“For the most part of my rehab I was just hoping I could walk again,” acknowledged Woods, who skipped the US Open last month to improve her chances of featuring this week. had left.
“I’m never going to play the full program again. My body won’t allow me to do that.
“I don’t know how many Open Championships I have left here in St Andrews, but I wanted it,” said Woods, who played in the first two rounds with US Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick.
Woods, meanwhile, was vocal in his criticism of the LIV rebels, who could be barred from joining the majors in the future.
“I disagree with that. I think what he has done is that he has turned his back on what has allowed him to hold this position,” he said.
While the Saudi-backed LIV Series offers record prize money of $25 million for each of its 54-hole events, the British Open prize money is $14 million.
McIlroy hopes that the winner’s check does not end up in the hands of one of the rebels.
“Selfishly, for me, yes, I think it would be better for the sport,” he said.
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