THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2000

History is made at the Home of Golf

It was always going to be big but the number of records broken at the Millennium Open Championship exceeded all expectations. Blazing sunshine helped lift crowd numbers to an all time high of 230,000 for the week. On the course and in the town business was booming, whether it was ice-creams, baseball caps or binoculars.

But the main attraction was, of course, Tiger Woods. Always the favourite, he was at the top of the leaderboard after the second day with an aggregate of 133, having ousted Ernie Els whose first round 66 was followed by a disappointing 72.

Once at the top, Tiger looked unlikely to slip. Rounds of 67, 66, 67 and 69 gave him a total of 269 - eight shots clear of the runners-up, Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els, both on 277. At 19 under par, Tiger broke Faldo's record score of 18 under par, set at St Andrews in 1990.

From the first Woods was clearly aiming for a place in the record books. Victory at St Andrews following on from his triumph in the US Open at Pebble Beach would rank him with only four other golfers who have won both events in the same year - Bobby Jones (1926 and 1930), Gene Sarazen (1932), Ben Hogan (1953) and Lee Trevino (1971).

In addition, it would also make the 24-year-old the youngest winner of a career Grand Slam of all four majors since Nicklaus achieved it when he was 26. The other Grand Slammers are Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Gary Player - but no-one has made it in such a short space of time.

Three days of unusually benign, windless conditions eased Tiger's progress into the annals of golfing history but did not make the Old Course any less of a challenge for the rest of the world's top golfers. The cut was par (144) and among the casualties were defending champion, Paul Lawrie (153) and St Andrews champion in 1995, John Daly (148). Other unexpected fall-outs were Michael Campbell (145) and Nick Price (146).

By the end of the third day Tiger's score was 200, 16 under par and six shots clear of David Duval and Thomas Bjorn, both on 206. Next in line with 207 were Darren Clark, Loren Roberts and David Toms.

A fresher wind and some cloud on day four did not prevent the inevitable. Record crowds of 47,000 watched as the world's number one and two, Woods and Duval, played the final round on the Old Course. Duval started out well reducing Tiger's six shot lead to three with birdies on the 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th holes.

Trouble started for Duval at the 10th when he missed a birdie opportunity while Tiger two putted from 40 yards. At the 12th Duval took five shots while a birdie from Tiger pushed him six shots clear at 19 under par. Having to take risks, Duval scored bogeys at the 13th and 16th, while Tiger squeezed in yet another birdie at the 14th bringing him to 20 under par.

With the pin just behind the infamous Road Hole bunker, the 17th was about as tough as it could be - even Tiger dropped a shot. For Duval, however, it was four shots gone as a tangle with Road Bunker took a high toll on Woods' only serious last day challenger. Duval ended the tournament back in joint 11th place.

All in all it was an extraordinary week. From the magical gathering of 22 past Open Champions on the eve of the tournament to the sight of Jack Nicklaus crossing the Swilcan Bridge one more time, there were some great moments which guaranteed the 129th Open Championship its place in golfing history.

Facts & Figures & Results

Top Ten Results
T Woods 269

E Els 277
T Bjorn 277

T Lehman 278
D Toms 278

F Couples 279

P Azinger 280
P Fulke 280
L Roberts 280
D Clarke 280

Record Crowds
Practice Days 48,000
Thursday 20th July 39,000
Friday 21st July 47,000
Saturday 22nd July 49,000
Sunday 23rd July 47,000
Total attendance was 230,000 breaking the previous Open record of 208,680 in 1990, also at St Andrews.

Just as tough
On day one, the Road Hole lived up to its reputation catching out 99 players out of 156. There were 71 bogies, 21 double bogies, 5 triple bogies and 2 scores of 8.
The second most difficult hole was the 456yard 15th which by the third day had seen 17 bogeys and 6 double bogeys.

Quotable Quotes
Tiger Woods:
"It is really hard to put into words the emotions and feelings going through me right now. To complete the Slam at St Andrews where golf started is something special. And to be spoken of in the same breath as the players who have already done it - Sarazen, Player, Hogan and Nicklaus - is special too."

Alan McGregor, general manager:
"It was marvellous to see the Open played on the Old Course which was presented as a traditional links and proved a true test of golf for the world's best golfers. The greens were hard and fast, the bunkers fearsome, the conditions were excellent and the weather superb - the only factor which was missing was the wind which usually plays such an important role in adding to the challenge for the superstars of the golfing world."

"We were delighted that the town was bathed in sunshine and looking its best for the thousands of visitors and hundreds of millions of television viewers around the world who watched the Championship."

"It seems entirely fitting that the world's number one golfer should win at the Home of Golf in the Millennium Open Championship. The event will certainly go down as one of the most memorable Opens in the history of golf."