- Title: GOLF-EUROPE/ST ANDREWS Town of St Andrews prepares for British Open
- Date: 15th July 2015
- Summary: VISITORS IN THE TOWN SHOP SELLING REPLICAS OF THE CLARET JUG, TROPHY OF THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP SIGN WELCOMING VISITORS TO ST ANDREWS, THE HOME OF GOLF VISITORS (SOUNDBITE)(English) CONNOR SIMPSON-CRAIB OF SOUTH AFRICA SAYS: "I think Louis Oosthuizen or Branden Grace will be the champion this year. Because they have just been playing good golf at the moment and South African
- Embargoed: 30th July 2015 13:00
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- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVABILUBCB7YP3UFDQLFV3XSN6YY
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Once again the Open Championship, or British Open, is being played on the Old Course at St Andrews, and the town is receiving a boost from the thousands of visitors that the golf tournament attracts.
The championship was played on the Old Course for the first time in 1873. In recent years the tournament returns to St Andrews about every five years as it is held at courses in Scotland, southern and north-east England.
Always the Open is played on links courses, characterised by being near the sea with sandy soil and the tough grasses to be found near sand dunes. The wind is always a factor, usually gusting and veering in direction.
Last year's champion Rory McIlroy is out of contention this year, having injured himself in an impromptu soccer game so the field is wide open.
The U.S. players taking part are often the seasoned experts, returning to a form of golf that they love, or those hoping the course will be kind to them this year. Among them is the 21-year-old phenomenon Jordan Spieth who has won the U.S. Masters and U.S. Open this year and could be in contention to add a third major to his tally.
"I think Louis Oosthuizen or Branden Grace will be the champion this year," said South Africa's Connor Simpson-Craib. "Because they have just been playing good golf at the moment and South Africans are on the rise obviously. Louis obviously won it five years ago at St Andrews so he likes the course and should be good."
Other visitors favoured Spieth, Dustin Johnson, who lost out suddenly at the U.S. Open last month, and Sergio Garcia.
For the town the run-up to the championship is a chance to sell goods, hotel rooms and souvenirs to the many visitors who will be trekking across the course over the weekend. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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