The Joy of Six: The Open at St Andrews

From 19th-century wrath of Strath, snarking from Snead and not so elementary for Tom Watson, here’s a selection of the highlights from the Old Course

The 1873 Open was the first to be held at St Andrews, and the first to be played over two rounds on an 18-hole course. (The competition had previously been decided by three rounds of 12 at Prestwick.) A record entry of 26 players contested it. Tom Kidd, a local lad, triumphed with rounds of 91 and 88. The scoring was high, even by the standards of the day: Mungo Park would take 20 shots fewer the following year at Musselburgh. The cause? Driving rain had turned the Old Course into a quagmire, though the local press hesitated before finally admitting any imperfections. “The putting greens were in fine condition,” one paper insisted, before finally, reluctantly, conceding downpage that “pools of water on the greens added considerably to the hazards”.

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