St Andrews hosts the 150th Open from Thursday with Rory McIlroy starting as the favourite for the Claret Jug while a determined Tiger Woods hopes to make an impact at a venue where he has triumphed twice before.
Record crowds for the week of 290,000 are expected on Scotland's coast for this landmark edition of the world's oldest golf tournament, which comes to the Old Course for the 30th time.
With fine weather expected to continue for much of the week, it is shaping up to be a fitting way to mark a historic Open, even if the sport continues to be rocked by the fallout caused by the breakaway LIV Series.
Players who left to join the Saudi-backed tour were allowed to take part by Open organisers, just as they were at last month's US Open despite both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour moving to ban the rebels.
That means four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and former Open champion Phil Mickelson will all tee off on Thursday.
Tiger Woods prepares for Open
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Tiger Woods attends a press conference held ahead of The 150th Open on The Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland on July 12, 2022. AFP -
Tiger Woods during a practice round prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews. Getty -
Tiger Woods of The United States looks on from the 17th. Getty -
Tiger Woods alongside partner Erica Herman during a practice round. Getty -
Tiger Woods during practice. Reuters -
Tiger Woods talks about his Open challenge. Reuters -
Tiger Woods of The United States tees off at the 17th. Getty -
Tiger Woods has a big following during practice. Reuters -
Tiger Woods with his caddy during practice. Reuters -
Tiger Woods of The United States looks on from the 17th. Getty -
Adrian Meronk of Poland and Tiger Woods of The United States shake hands on the 18th during a practice round. Getty -
Tiger Woods chips on the 18th. Getty -
Tiger Woods walks over the Swilcan Bridge. PA -
Tiger Woods of The United States looks on from the 17th. Getty -
Adrian Meronk and Tiger Woods make their way past the Old Course Hotel. Getty -
Tiger Woods tees off during a practice round. Getty
McIlroy, though, is aiming to end an eight-year wait to add to his four major titles and the Northern Irishman is the favourite in the eyes of experts.
“I think it's the holy grail of our sport. So not a lot of people are going to get that opportunity to achieve that, but that's what winning an Open at St Andrews is,” McIlroy said.
There is certainly plenty of money swirling around in golf, and the prize money at St Andrews is sizeable.
How much prize money is on offer?
1st £2.1 million ($2.5million)
2nd £1.2 million ($1.45million)
3rd £773,000 ($930,000)
4th £602,000 ($725,000)
5th £482,000 ($580,000)
6th £419,800 ($505,000)
7th £360,700 ($434,000)
8th £304,200 ($366,000)
9th £266,800 ($321,000)
10th £241,000 ($290,000)
The amount then goes down all the way to 70th place, who takes home £26,750 ($32,200) after making the cut.
