This week I am saddened not to be in the press tent at St. Andrews, or just in the crowd, and this trophy and all it stands for is why.
Although I've spent most all of my life here in Canada my Scottish roots ensured that we grew up imagining 'this putt for the Open Championship"..
Ever since Arnie Palmer came over, sponsored by Wilson Sports in 1960, the Open moved up a notch, especially when he won it in '61 and 62'.
For Scots going about there daily lives, having all these colourful, tanned Americans and others from around the world coming to our home of golf in the normally quiet wee town is a toxic concoction.
One of the beauties of St Andrew's is that the players/caddies, TV personalities, movie stars, music legends etal are right amongst the public, whether on the course or in Rusacks having a pint, or at Tom Morris's grave, it is terribly exciting.
Only Wimbledon has the same buzz, except it's contained within the grounds. I remember standing in the crowd watching John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg coming out to get in their courtesy cars on the front steps after their epic 1980 final.
I turned to the little American standing beside me and said " we're so lucky to have witnessed this match today" He said "absolutely".. as I recognized him he turned and ran along the hedge to the VVIP tent... It was Dustin Hoffman..
Seeing Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Johnny Miller etal up close and personal fighting to win this claret jug along side all the other immortals from the UK and around the world led by the late great Seve and his legendary win in 1984 is what has made this week special. He would have been 65 this year, sadly missing..
This week's field will write their own chapter in the Open Championship history books, and only one of them will hoist this claret jug, for the 150th time.
It's been a fabulous time in my life, and of course millions more.. and always will be..
Bryan Angus
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