The Old Course at St Andrews is famously full of complexity and subtlety. It’s a strategic test where finding the right placement from the tee is crucial to open up pins and create birdie chances. As Jack Nicklaus, twice a winner at St Andrews, was talking about in his press conference yesterday; to successfully negotiate the Old, you must play by the bunkers – Know where they are and avoid them at all costs. The bunkers of St Andrews will be a key defence this week, but there are other possible stumbling blocks out there. Here we consider 5 disasters to avoid on the Old Course.
The Swilcan Burn
The very first shot on The Old Course should be about the most straightforward on the layout. But the pressure of teeing off at the historic venue, and in this historic 150th Open will be significant, even for the most experienced competitors. Adrenaline will be running high and that can often mean hitting further than expected. The players should be selecting a club that would keep them short of the Swilcan Burn at its closest point on the left side. But with firm running fairways and that boost of “the moment” we could see some overcook it and run into the water. The burn can also be a threat for the second, particularly if the pin is near the front of the green – Players trying to get it in close, might misjudge and come up short in the H2O. Then they’ll face a delicate chip from a tight lie, over the burn to a tight pin… A possible disaster looming.
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Running into bunkers
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A good deal has been made about how the modern player might overpower the Old Course, but there are places out there when the long ball runs into trouble. On the 4th, the safe line from the tee is to the left, as it generally is around The Old. Playing out over the rough-covered mounds, there’s a generous portion of fairway shared with the 15th. But hit too far on that line and the ball will continue running into the gaping “Cottage” bunker. Often that will mean a shot out sideways is the…
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