Welcome To St. Andrews
Published: Aug 2, 2007
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No dogs, no women.
Until only recently, those were the words delivered by a sign posted just outside the clubhouse at St. Andrews, the history-rich but progress-challenged birthplace of golf.
Although members of the Royal & Ancient - the game's governing body outside the United States - have long pointed to alternate clubhouses on the property where women are allowed, even with the forbidding signage removed, the centerpiece of the world's most famous course has remained exclusively stag.
And while history says that a number of women have been allowed to play St. Andrews - the first being Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, during the mid 1500s - never has the course been opened to women professionals.
So is there any wonder that today's opening shot of the Women's British Open, being played for the first time at the storied Old Course, is to the LPGA what Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon were to space travel?
"I think it's a big, big, big deal," said Annika Sorenstam, who counts 10 majors among her 69 career victories. "It's a huge step for women's golf to play here. I mean, the history of St. Andrews has with the men playing the Open there … I think it's wonderful."
The Women's British started in 1994 and was elevated to major championship status in 2001. Since becoming the season's final women's major, it has been hosted by high-profile courses such as Royal Lytham & St. Annes and Royal Birkdale.
Now, women's golf gets its biggest stage. This is where Bobby Jones proclaimed, "Your golfing career as a champion is not complete unless you win at St. Andrews." It is where Jack Nicklaus came to play his final British Open. It is where Old Tom Morris, Sam Snead and Tiger Woods cemented legacies.
"We're playing at the home of golf; it can't get much bigger than that," said England's Laura Davies, a 20-time winner, including four majors.
For almost all of the women, it is their first visit to the course that has hosted 27 men's British Opens and fills a library of history books. For fans, the intrigue of this milestone will be how LPGA players handle the course that has so long belonged to the men.
The test will be 6,638 yards, playing to a par 73. The famous No. 17 Road Hole will be converted to a 453-yard par 5.
It is not, however, the yardage that will present the greatest challenge.
First will be the deep pot bunkers scattered throughout the fairways. Long-hitting male tour players have found success by bombing tee shots beyond the trapdoors, but many of the women may find them in play.
Second is St. Andrews' series of double greens that can demand putts of 80 to 100 feet.
"I mean, I was working on putts from 50 yards away, and I was working on them for five, 10, 15, minutes, just 50, 60, 70 yards," said American Natalie Gulbis, fresh off her first career victory. "Usually I work on wedge shots, 50, 60, 70 yards. But there's a green that's a hundred yards long."
No one seems to care.
"I think what really makes this special is it's the first time we've ever had a women's event here," Gulbis said. "That's going to supersede everything. It's been something that's been on the schedule for a couple years. We've been really excited about coming over here and having an LPGA event - having a major over here at St. Andrews."
Information from other news organizations was used in this report.
