The Senior Open Championship will be played on the Old Course at St. Andrews for the first time in its storied history in 2018, it was announced by the R&A and European Tour have announced.
St. Andrews has hosted the Open Championship on 28 occasions, including last year when Zach Johnson claimed the Claret Jug.
“The one thing that I hope that I can rectify is that I left my competitive Open Championship history with that three-putt (in 2009, when he lost in a playoff to Stewart Cink at Turnberry) and prior to that a shank,” said five-time Open champion Tom Watson, who never won at St. Andrews. “So I hope that I can do it a little bit better in my next appearance at St Andrews.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have another appearance. I’ve had a great run I’m 66-years-old right now. … But I still feel as if just yesterday I played in my first Open Championship at Carnoustie. I remember the trip over and the subsequent years of success and failure.
“I think with the event being at the Old Course at St. Andrews, it’s going to be a complete success.”
Added six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo, who claimed the second of his three Open victories at St Andrews in 1990: “It is absolutely fantastic to see the Senior Open Championship going to St. Andrews in 2018. This certainly gives me another golfing goal and I only hope my game is good enough to give it a go on the Old Course.”
Marco Dawson won Senior Open last year at Sunningdale and the 30th edition of the event will be played this year at Carnoustie, followed by Royal Porthcawl in 2017.
