One Day Olympic Golf Test Event On The Docket For 2016

Though generally thought to have needed to be a year out from the Games, the International Golf Federation has pushed a rumored test event for Olympic golf from Thanksgiving weekend to closer to the games.

Alex Miceli reports from The Open where officials revealed that when the even it s played, it'll be a one-day event and sounds more like a contractual obligation than any kind of serious competition. This should ensure that the

The International Olympic Committee had scheduled a test event for the last week of November, but after a thorough review by the PGA Tour agronomy staff and IGF representatives in June, the IGF recommended that the test event be delayed until early 2016.

“We think it would be better to have the test event take place after having had the benefit of a second grow-in season,” IGF vice president Ty Votaw said during a news conference at St. Andrews, site of this week’s British Open. Votaw, a PGA Tour executive, added that the timeline was a better fit “taking into consideration the availability of players, world-class players, on a November-December time frame.”

Recap Of The Opens At St. Andrews

Doug Ferguson has put together capsules on all of the previous Open Championships at St. Andrews.

This was fun:

1876: In one of the most bizarre endings, Bob Martin and David Strath finished at 169. On the 17th, Strath's third shot hit a player in the group ahead that was putting out, keeping the ball from going on the road. The committee decided there would be a playoff in two days, enough time to review whether Strath should be disqualified for hitting to the hole while players were still on the green. Strath refused to take part in a playoff under such conditions, and Martin was declared the winner.

Peter Dawson Explains His Changes To The Old Course

Glad we got one thing cleared up before the start of The Open Championship: it was a Peter Dawson operation all along!

While Martin Hawtree was the architect of record for altering the Old Course to offset regulatory hesitancy, R&A Chief Inspector Peter Dawson lays out for Scotland on Sunday's John Huggan the details behind his changes to what is apparently his course.

No one needs to rehash the Friday news dump approach to the project or the matter of tinkering with greens and bunkers after over fifty years of no architectural tinkering on golf's most sacred grounds. Instead, just take in the totality of the remarks, which do not include a "we" reference that might indicate contributions from architect Hawtree or the manager's of the Old Course, the Links Trust. I, I, I, I...oh and many were envisioned while out walking the dog!  Take that, Old Tom!

There was also this curious remark...

“All of the changes are the result of much observation at the Open and the Dunhill Links Championship – and a few hundred Sunday morning dog walks of course. And yes, shortening the ball would be the equivalent of lengthening the course. But we, unfortunately, don’t have the luxury of being a single-issue organisation.”

Even if it's the single biggest issue binding all of the other vital issues the organization is trying to address with sustainability, growth and the future?

Stinks Getting Old: Tiger And Rory Texting Over Their Injuries

Not too far removed from two old fogies discussing their hemorroid remedies, it seems Tiger the chiropractor is getting texts from Rory McIlroy asking for rehab advice.

From Steve DiMeglio in USA Today, reporting from St. Andrews where Tiger showed up early to do a clinic...for aspiring golfers.

"He sent me a photo the day he did it. We talked about it for a little bit," Woods told reporters from USA TODAY Sports and ESPN.com on Saturday after spending much of his day with junior golfers to kick off his preparation for the third major of the season. "He said, 'You've been through a lot of injuries over the years,' so he picked my brain a little bit. We had a good talk. He's doing the right thing, taking care of his body first before he gets back out here.”

The doctor has spoken!

Photos And Third Round Wrap: Scottish Open

A nice steady breeze restored order at Gullane Saturday, as proper links conditions followed two days of relatively benign weather. The late gusts and showers didn't quite separate the leaderboard as much as hoped, leaving a final round shootout in order.

England's Daniel Brooks holds a one shot ead over Raphael Jacquelin and is two ahead of Rickie Fowler, Joost Luiten and Tommy Fleetwood, while Eddie Pepperell, Russell Knox and Matt Kuchar are well within range three back. 

A few images from the past couple of days here at Gullane, where all seem to be having a good time and the atmosphere surrounding the experience is excellent. Of course I write this just after having enjoyed a dessert pastry from the otherworldly Falko Limited, so all is right with the world...

Tiger Shocked To Find Old Course Soft And Slow

Bob Harig of ESPN.com on Tiger's first practice round at the 2015 Open Championship, his first appearance there since 2010.

From Harig's story:

"I was shocked," Woods said. "I had seen photos of it a month ago. It was bone dry. It looked like it was going to be one of those dust bowls again; hard, fast, like the years I've played St. Andrews. It's changed. They got big rain and a lot of sun. It's totally changed.

"I'm going to have to do a little bit of feel around the greens, my putting. I wasn't expecting the firmness to be that soft. We made ball marks on the greens. I don't ever remember making ball marks around this place."

Video: Old Course Eleventh And Twelfth Hole Flyovers

One of the most emulated par-3s in the way of greenside bunkering schemes has otherwise not been very well replicated by architect who have been inspired by the Eden. (Unlike the Redan, which has been improved on and which this golfer posted a nice five on today.)

The 11th features a softened green to make a portion over the sand more pinnable during The Open. Next week we'll find out if the effort succeeded.

The flyover:

Outside of the finishing holes, this stretch

The short 12th is one of the lesser known influences on the modern driveable par-4 movement and probably continues to live in a form of architectural anonymity due to its location in the round and the lack of spectating options during The Open. Nonetheless, it's a fascinating hole and one when, played with a helping wind, may be best approach from over the green.

The flyover: