ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (AP) – Already a two-time winner at St Andrews, Tiger Woods picked up another honour before he even struck a shot in the 150th edition of the British Open.
He is now an honorary member of the Royal & Ancient (R&A) Golf Club of St Andrews.
The R&A used the occasion of its big celebration this week to confer honorary membership to Open champions Woods, Rory McIlroy and Paul Lawrie.
It’s not like Woods needs any help getting a tee time on the Old Course, or even gaining entry into the famous clubhouse. But it’s a nice honour.
“It is not only the home of golf but a place in this world that I hold near my heart,” Woods said in a statement. “I am humbled to accept this invitation alongside these outstanding players today, as well as those who came before us.”
Woods won in 2000 and 2005 at St Andrews, and then at Royal Liverpool in 2006. The next time at Royal Liverpool, in 2014, was McIlroy’s turn, winning wire-to-wire for the third leg of the career Grand Slam. Lawrie won in historic and memorable fashion at Carnoustie in 1999, a 10-shot comeback against Jean Van de Velde and winning in a playoff.
“It’s a privilege to represent a club that has done so much for golf over so many years and I’m proud to play my part in promoting golf around the world,” McIlroy said.
DECHAMBEAU SPONSOR
Bryson DeChambeau no longer has a golf ball sponsorship with Bridgestone, the latest example of sponsors breaking with players who signed with LIV Golf.
Golf.com reported DeChambeau will be using the Bridgestone ball. He just won’t get paid for it.
“The PGA Tour is an extremely important part of professional golf, and Bridgestone has a sports marketing relationship with this highly visible series of tournaments,” Bridgestone said in a statement to the website.
“In considering that Bryson DeChambeau will no longer be participating in these events, Bridgestone and Bryson have agreed to end their brand ambassador partnership.”
MACINTYRE’S ‘GOOSEBUMPS’
Hometown hopes at St Andrews are resting on the burly shoulders of Robert MacIntyre, one of three Scots in the field this week.
And the locals will hope MacIntrye can back up top-10 finishes in his first two appearances in the British Open with another strong run at the claret jug. Those came in Northern Ireland (Royal Portrush) and England (Royal St George’s) and playing in his native Scotland – at the home of golf, no less – gives it a different feel.
“When I was driving in on Sunday, that’s the first time I’ve ever had goosebumps coming to St Andrews,” the 25-year-old MacIntyre said.
SPIETH AGAINST SPIETH
There are some parts of Jordan Spieth’s game that he thinks are better now than when he first played at St Andrews in 2015. But then again, he was winning more seven years ago.
So who wins between Spieth at St. Andrews in 2015 and Spieth at St Andrews in 2022?
Spieth leaned toward 2015 because of his momentum. He had won the previous week at the John Deere Classic, and his tournament before that he won the US Open for the second leg of the calendar Grand Slam.
“I would say if I played against myself then, if I beat myself then this week, then I would be holding a trophy,” Spieth said.
