Bob Harig writes about the tradition of no Sunday golf at St. Andrews which, did not include today when high winds made for a wild and wacky practice round, write both Doug Ferguson (here) and Steve Elling (here). Lawrence Donegan also files from St. Andrews and writes:
As for those who have not, they willfind the place in absolutely superb condition, even if it is a little bit greener than perhaps the R&A would like it to be. But the fairways are hard underfoot, the rough wispy – as it ought to be - and the greens as smooth as Tony Bennett's greatest hits.
That leaves just the one significant change to the course itself; the lengthening of the 17th hole by 40 yards, which places the new tee on the patch of land stolen from the neighbouring driving range.
To anyone who has never seen the Old Course before the change looks perfectly natural. On the other hand anyone who has seen the Old Course before would immediately be startled by the white stakes that run along the left-hand side of the tee.
Effectively the players will be teeing off from a place that is "out of bounds". It is not, of course, but still it is a bizarre arrangement.
As for the change itself, it met with general approval from those who played the hole yesterday, even if the enthusiasm was best measured with an atomic scale. "I don't think the change was needed,'' said Furyk with a shrug. "But now that it is there, I think it is fine."