Golf
The Big Easy geared for the 150th Open─── MORGAN PIEK 08:13 Thu, 14 Jul 2022
The 150th Open Championship teed off on Thursday morning at the St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. This year's fourth and final major is celebrating the milestone event at the home of golf to make it that more special.
A total of 11 South Africans tee it up this week and they include two former champions in Louis Oosthuizen and Ernie Els.
Oosthuizen won the Open in 2010 at the Old Course, while Els won it in 2002 at Muirfield and 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.
The 52-year-old Els said it's always special playing the Open at the Old Course at he will be hoping to win the ‘Holy Grail’ ten years after winning his fourth major.
“We had such a beautiful evening with the past champions dinner with Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus speaking. We had all of the champions there - all of them said that you are very fortunate to win a major and an Open Championship. But if you win it at St Andrews, it's like winning the Holy Grail.
“It's very special to be here.
“I've played it so many times, but still - the old lady throws all kinds of surprises at you.
“I'm not quite hitting the ball like I used to back in the day, but I'll try and find a way around here. I think it's really going to separate the men from the boys this week - especially with this wind.”
The Big Easy gets his first round underway at 10:25.
