Tag Archives: Home of golf

Jul
15
2015
Watson closing book on The Open
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

Tom Watson will bid his farewell to St Andrews this week, as he’s most likely playing in his last Open Championship at the Home of Golf. It’s been 40 years since Watson made his first start at golf’s oldest major in 1975, which he ended up winning at Carnoustie.

The five-time Open champion and arguably the greatest links golfer in the modern era actually did what he thought was his last walk up the 18th hole in competition when the Open was last held at St Andrews in 2010. Even though the 65-year-old legend has never won on the Old Course, it was a special moment that I’ll never forget, as he received a rousing ovation from his adoring fans and doffed his cap to them before chipping in for eagle on what was believed to be his final Open at the Home of Golf.

2 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #
Jul
15
2015
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 3: Spieth all set to go
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

Two years ago, Jordan Spieth won the John Deere Classic, which turned out to be a life-changing victory, but it also earned him a spot in the following week’s Open Championship at Muirfield. He remembers getting into contention briefly during the third round, but he almost talked himself out of it, thinking he wasn’t ready to be in that “odd” position and perhaps it was “too big” for him at the time.

Fast forward to the present day, where Spieth has clearly proven that he’s a quick study and more than comfortable contending at majors, not to mention winning them. Spieth, who won the John Deere Classic (again) Sunday, is looking to capture his third consecutive major after securing titles at the Masters and the U.S. Open this season. If he does accomplish this feat, it would, of course, get him three-quarters of the way to attaining the greatest achievement in golf, the Grand Slam.

1 Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #
Jul
14
2015
DAWN OF THE DEAD: Tiger finally ready?
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

Despite his recent struggles, Tiger Woods still believes he can match Jack Nicklaus’ all-time career major record of 18. First, he needs to capture that elusive 15th major at this week’s Open Championship, held at the Old Course at St Andrews, where he won in the 2000 and 2005 editions. Of course, he does, right? After all, if he didn’t, he wouldn’t be competing, not to mention he would never admit it.

1 Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #
Jul
13
2015
Dustin not dwelling, ready to go
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

Dustin Johnson insists it didn’t take long for him to get over the disappointment from the U.S. Open, where he had a 12-footer for eagle to win outright and a four-footer on the 72nd hole to tie Jordan Spieth and force an 18-hole playoff the following Monday. Johnson missed both putts and settled with a share of runner-up honors.

1 Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #
Jul
12
2015
Major primer: Reliving the 2010 Open at St Andrews
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

The Open Championship at St Andrews is by far the best week in golf that only happens once every five years. I’ve been waiting for the oldest major to return to the Home of Golf ever since the 2010 edition ended with Louis Oosthuizen running away with the Claret Jug by seven strokes. First of all, it’s been five years already? I’ve been covering golf for that long? I can’t believe how fast time has past, and looking at pictures, I’m startled at how much I’ve aged!

That was only the third tournament I’d ever covered (and my first for the WSJ), and I always refer to it as the “best-worst week” of my golf media career, which still holds true. It’s easily the most memorable tournament I’ve covered — not per se because of the actual golf and the result, as Sunday was sort of boring after Oosthuizen pulled away from the field.

4 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #
Jul
11
2015
TEXT EDUCATION: Rory asks Tiger for injury advice
By Stephanie Wei under British Open

After Rory McIlroy injured his ankle in a “kickabout” with friends last Saturday, the world no. 1 sent a text accompanied by a photo to none other than Tiger Woods, seeking advice, according to USA Today’s Steve DiMeglio. Which makes sense given the 14-time major champion’s well-documented history of ailments.

2 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #
Oct
27
2014
Golf in Fife, Scotland: Jubilee/New Course composite
By Stephanie Wei under Wei Goes Golfing
Jubilee/New Course

Par-4 15th at the Jubilee Course

For one week out of the year when the Dunhill Links is contested, golfers can play a combination of the New and the Jubilee, the second and third courses built at the Home of Golf, which sit just north of the Old Course. When this option was initially presented to me, I wasn’t thrilled with the idea, to be honest. I thought it might be troublesome and that I might get annoyed with awkward, broken routings.

That said, it was a pleasant surprise when I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It’s perhaps not the most trying round of golf you’ll ever encounter, but it’s certainly a fun one. The wind, of course, is always a factor and makes it a tougher test. The composite of the Jubilee and the New is a good, solid challenge on traditional Scottish links — and it’s better than putting both courses out of play due to the infrastructure of the Dunhill event. 

1 Comment
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #
Sep
18
2014
Welcome to the 20th century (yes, 20th!): R&A votes “yes” to allow women members
By Stephanie Wei under R&A

Women now allowed in R&A!

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has voted in favor of allowing female members for the first time in its 260-year history. The St Andrews-based club consists of approximately 2,400 members worldwide, all of whom were entitled to vote — 75% of the membership took part in the ballot, with 85% opting to change its outdated policy. 

3 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #
Jul
14
2013
Phil completes thrillathon on first playoff hole at Scottish Open
By Stephanie Wei under European PGA Tour

Thanks to the fine folks of Aberdeen Asset Management and Visit Scotland, WUP is in Scotland this week covering the Scottish Open and playing some of the great courses in the area. Keep up with my Instagram, YouTube and Twitter for (more real-time) behind-the-scenes coverage of the event and my adventures.

Phil Mickelson Scottish Open

Phil Mickelson, who is finally no longer winless in the United Kingdom, never fails to thrill. It’s almost maddening watching him because you really just don’t know what he might pull out of his bag of tricks.

This time, Phil survived a shaky finish on the 18th in regulation that forced a sudden-death playoff against Branden Grace to capture the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

6 Comments
Continue Reading

#, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #, #