A little more than 16,000 kilometres and nine time zones from the 18th green of the Old Course at St Andrews, host of this week’s AIG Women’s Open, is a golf course in the outback of Australia with a quirky place in the game.
On the famous Road Hole, Rory McIlroy went long on his approach and saw his ball come to rest on the literal road. Naturally, fans were on hand to capture the shot on video.
We know this isn’t an Old Course first. Still, the improvisational nature of the shot, plus the lovely Scottish summer weather seen in the video, elevates it to legendary status.
Smith comes into Masters month after a three-week break from tournament golf following his runner-up finish in the LIV Golf event in Hong Kong where he was beaten in a playoff by Abraham Ancer.
If all goes to plan, a slightly “braver” target a few yards to the right of the clock will be an option for players in the AIG Women’s Open next August.
The first and 18th holes at the Old Course is a magical stretch of golf, but also one that provides plenty of pressure. It’s common to have pretty big galleries watching golfers start and finish their rounds there—even if they’re not named Harry Styles. Plus, there’s all the history. Oh, the history.
The work is being done to address the turf leading up to the bridge, which the Links Trust noted is often damaged due to the traffic it receives from thousands of visitors taking pictures of the famed landmark.
There are some hilarious responses, including one photo rendering of patio furniture and a barbecue on the site. But there’s genuine disgust, too, as if the R&A slapped a windmill onto the side of its stately clubhouse.
Australian Golf Digest
