ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Justin Thomas made the most out of missing the cut in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
With an extra two days free of demands, Thomas cruised to the quaint seaside village known as St. Andrews and set up shop. That Saturday evening he strolled around the Old Course with Tiger Woods, each armed with a putter and wedges, to familiarize himself with the lay of the land ahead of the 150th Open Championship. The next day the two played 18 holes with every club.
And Thomas played a tour guide to his fiancé, Jillian Wisniewski. The two arrived at the tee box of the Road Hole and Thomas went all explanatory.
“Trying to explain that hole and that tee shot to my fiancée was a little bit difficult,” Thomas said. “So I had to take her out there myself.”
Yardage Book: Take a closer look at the Old Course
Here’s the exchange.
“You hit (your tee shot) over the hotel,” Thomas said.
“OK, but not really,” Wisniewski replied.
“Oh, no, really. You have to hit it over this hotel,” Thomas responded.
The hotel would be the Old Course Hotel, just one of the features that comes into play on the quirky, 495-yard, slight dogleg-right 17th hole that may be the most famous hole in the world and will play a pivotal role in the outcome of the Open.
Players choose a letter from the Old Course Hotel sign to aim at for their blind tee shot. Side note: the hotel features extra-resistant glass in the windows.
There also is the greenside pot bunker that has made grown men cry, the Old Station Road and stone wall behind the putting surface that has produced an equal number of tears. Rough and hay rim the fairways, the green is a sliver of safety just 13 yards deep in one portion.
Justin Thomas
“It’s so unique and it’s so cool,” Thomas said. “It’s one of the 16 holes out here that can totally change your line, your strategy and thinking overall based on the wind direction. You’re going to see a lot of 4s and 5s this week and the potential of someone trying to take it on and make a birdie that could turn into a 6 or 7.”
Jean Van de Velde of France plays out of the Road Hole bunker on the 17th during the second round of the British Open on the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. (Photo: Paul Severn/Allsport)
Rory McIlroy
Added 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year Rory McIlroy: “A 3 is a massive bonus there. You take four 4s and run very happily to the 18th…
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