Something about St Andrews creates a special kind of magic. With the furious North Sea crashing against the rocks, and the wind whipping into a frenzy, this is a links golf course that tests players to the maximum, and accepts nothing less than the best.
And yet, this stark coastal course claims in its hallowed fairways, greens, and bunkers so many patches on golf’s historic tapestry. Some of the most poignant moments in the history of the sport have been contrasted against the tempestuous St Andrews conditions — the realisation of sporting dreams, and at the same time, the devastation at their crushing.
Last year’s Open Championship was no different, with the tournament returning to the hallowed Old Course for its 150th edition. As golf’s oldest major championship, there is always a special motivation among the top players to perform well at The Open, but given the special circumstances surrounding last year’s event, things were ramped up another notch.
As we gear up for this year’s tournament, and analyse the Open Championship 2023 odds, let’s take a look at three enduring memories from the 2022 event.
Tiger Woods’ fond farewell to St Andrews
There wasn’t a dry eye around St Andrews on the final Sunday, as Tiger Woods bid farewell to golf’s spiritual home. The American has been a bit-part player since sustaining severe injuries in a car accident in 2021, and there’s little chance he’ll still be playing when The Open next takes place at St Andrews.
Mobility issues meant Woods struggled to produce anywhere near his best, but that did not prevent the crowd from giving him a rapturous reception as the three-time champion made his way up the 18th fairway.
Woods was visibly moved by the ovation as he limped towards the 18th green — an emotional cocktail of sadness, pain, appreciation, and disappointment at his poor performance.
Rory McIlroy’s near miss
There was heartache for Rory McIlroy too, but of a different sort altogether. The Northern Irishman was chasing his first major triumph for eight years, and after a fabulous opening three rounds of 66, 68 and 66 again, McIlroy went into the final day of the championship with a share of the lead and a real chance of ending his drought at the most iconic venue in golf.
Unfortunately, McIlroy faltered when it mattered most. While Cameron Smith and Cameron Young were making birdies for fun, McIlroy just couldn’t produce the standard required to get the job done. A round of 70 was only good enough for third place, and it felt like a real opportunity had slipped through McIlroy’s fingers.
Cameron Smith’s memorable triumph
McIlroy’s loss was Smith’s gain. The Australian produced a flawless final round to come from four shots behind at the start of Sunday to claim a one-stroke victory over second-place Young. Smith had been knocking on the door at golf’s majors for a while, and the triumph was confirmation of his supreme talents.
It was fitting, perhaps, that on the weekend Tiger Woods said goodbye to one of golf’s oldest and most storied courses, a young player, with the future of the sport in his hands, began his own personal love affair with St Andrews.
