Turnberry, to Host Longer Open
The longest course in Open history was Carnoustie, which measured 7,421 yards when Padraig Harrington won in 2007.
But this record is about to be smashed by Turnberry. The Scottish course, which last held the Open in 1994, will measure 7,204 yards for the 16-19 July event.
The new layout features six new tees, including a 200-yard drive over the bay near the famous Lighthouse at the 10th.
Since Zimbabwean Nick Price triumphed at Turnberry 15 years ago, the straight 410-yard 16th has changed to a 455-yard dogleg right, while the par-five 17th has been stretched from 498 to 559 yards with three new bunkers also added.
The 17th is the hole that Price eagled with a 50-foot putt as he saw off Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik.
Turnberry first staged the Open in 1977 when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a single stroke in what was dubbed the “Duel in the Sun”. Although Nicklaus finished 65-66, Watson shot 65-65 with third-place Hubert Green 10 shots back.
Harrington, who defended his title with a four-shot victory over Ian Poulter at Royal Birkdale last year, will be playing his first tournament at the Ayrshire venue. The Dubliner is bidding to become the first player to win the Open three years in a row since Australian Peter Thomson in 1956.
Tiger Woods will also be making his first visit, but Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy have all competed there before when the course hosted the 1996 British Amateur.
Posted in Tour News
