From sublime Sunday to magic Monday, these links had not witnessed such a scene in 27 years. The Old Course was wet but spirits were as high as the weekend winds, a grey day but an historic one with spectators’ optimism undimmed by the rain.
For good reason. The crowds were treated to a veritable golfing feast, the first Open to finish on a Monday since 1988 and all for the cut price of £10. To say this was good value for money would be an understatement, as the putts dropped and the grandstands cheered.
It may have not been the whooping and hollering of Hoylake last year but there was something unique about this final-day atmosphere. A connoisseur’s paradise on the most ancient of golfing lands where the thousands lucky enough to postpone their working week enjoyed a day to remember.
By the time the final pairing of Louis Oosthuizen and Paul Dunne crossed the Swilcan Bridge, huge numbers had crammed in to The Links, the road adjacent to the 18th. People inside the barriers and out craned their necks for a view of the action, below the exclusive hotel balconies and windows filled with faces.
It was a fitting way to end a wonderful Open. While those in attendance on Saturday were deprived of action – wetting whistles in bars for the most part – the latecomers sampled one of the best climaxes to an Open for many years. Any one of seven players had a shot at the Claret Jug with nine holes left to play and it all added to the drama.
The layout of these links, which spread far out on this famous stretch of coast, mean a cauldron venue it is not. There was, however, a peculiar feel to the atmosphere at times, with so many viable contenders for the title ensuring that one single group was not followed more than the rest.
The attendance figures before Monday’s extra day were similar to the 2010 tournament and last year’s event at Royal Liverpool. From the practice days to Sunday 201,654 people came through the gates compared to 201,000 at St Andrews five years ago.
As fans took advantage of the ticket discount, the police presence across the course increased. In the tented village, in particular, the atmosphere crackled at midday as the clouds rolled over and the din descended, adding to the electricity which was building before the leaders had even teed off.
The grumblings among those eagerly seeking out the action on the big screens were only that it was ESPN beaming out the shots until the BBC’s coverage began in the afternoon. Standing alongside the 18th fairway, Audrey and Diane from Edinburgh said: “We came last time it was at St Andrews and we’ve come over again because of the £10 ticket. It’s fabulous, I didn’t think it would be this busy but it’s great.
“The stands are in good positions and they’re already full. The only thing we’re disappointed about is the champagne bar being closed. Being on Monday they must have already drunk it all.”
Brothers Neil and Daryl Sheperd added: “We’ve been here since Friday and we extended our stay by a day. You’d be mad not to, it’s worth taking a day off for this. It’s difficult to tell but we think it’s busier than the last few days, we could get a drink easily before but look at the queue now.”
As Dunne teed off, his supporters who had made the journey from Ireland were the most vociferous. He may have dropped out of contention very swiftly but those encouraging voices remained.
Every big name was greeted by great applause on the first tee, with Sergio García receiving particular reverence. That support continued throughout the day, a mixture of local opportunists, week-long aficionados who extended their stay and new faces who would never have attended the golf had it not been for the cheap tickets. It all contributed to an unusual amalgamation, a unique way to end what, for many reasons, has been a unique championship.
