Golf’s The Open looks set for 150th year with record attendance! Tiger Woods will be the magnet again

Another major golf event is knocking on the gates of the old St. Andrews course in Scotland. The cradle of the sport will host its oldest ever major tournament. It will be a celebration as this is the 150th anniversary meeting. Crowds of eager fans will turn out, perhaps seeing all the world’s best golfers together for the last time for a long time.

It is to be a true celebration of golf. That’s why The Open is returning to the Old Course in Scotland after seven long years. The fact that it will be returning to its home in style was made symbolically known at St Andrews 150 days before the 150th edition began.

The iconic clubhouse at The Royal And Ancient Golf Club was lit up with a breathtaking light and sound projection that put a nod to all the significant events that have taken place at The Open since 1860.

The enormous spectator interest clearly speaks to the magnitude of this event. According to the information available, about 150. The Open attracted 1.3 million fans, which of course the St. Andrews course could not handle. So there was a lottery, much like the Masters at Augusta.

In the end, 290,000 lucky people snapped up the prize ticket. It is already clear that this will be the highest attendance in the tournament’s history. The highest attendance at The Open to date was in 2000, when 239,000 spectators showed up.

HIGHEST ATTENDANCE AT THE OPEN

2000
St. Andrews – 239,000

2019
Royal Portrush – 237,750

2015
St. Andrews – 237 000

2017
Royal Birkdale – 235 000

A big part of the massive demand for tickets is undoubtedly Tiger Woods, who confirmed his participation in The Open 2022 back in the spring during the Masters. Seeing him in action will be increasingly rare after his car crash in February 2021.

“I am also resigned to the fact that my career at the highest level is over. It is clear to me that my leg will never be in the same condition again. That I won’t be able to put any more weight on it or practice like before,” GolfExtra quoted the famous golfer as saying in December.

However, he also mentioned at that time that he would not be participating in the 150. The Open is one of his priorities. After all, that’s also why he skipped the recent US Open on the American continent to be as prepared as possible for St. Andrews in Scotland. He last played in the J. P.McManus Pro-Am exhibition tournament at Adare Manor in Ireland less than two weeks ago.

He and 155 other players are currently preparing at the venue of the oldest ever major tournament. Among them are names such as Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who recently opted to transfer to the rival LIV Golf Tour, causing a huge stir.

Although these players have been suspended from the PGA Tour series, they are allowed to play major tournaments due to early qualification. However, LIV Golf Tour tournaments are not counted in the world rankings, so many current golfers will soon drop off the PGA circuit altogether.

That’s all the more reason for fans to look forward to the 150th anniversary edition of the prestigious tournament. All signs point to some extraordinary moments on the vast grassy plains of St. Andrew, Scotland.

Source: The Open, GolfExtra