JIMMY GUNN WINS $2,650 FOR JT SIXTH FINISH IN ARIZONA

Jimmy Gunn from Dornoch finished joint sixth on 10-under-par 206 in this week's All-American Professional Golf Tour event at the Papago course near Phoenix, Arizona today.
Gunn had rounds of 72, 64 and 70 to earn $2,650.
He has totalled $5,635 from the two events he has played on the mini-tour's winter circuit.
Tom Glissmeyer, 26, from Colorado won the $12,150 first prize by two strokes with scores of 65, 66 and 67 for 18-under-par 198.  

GAVIN DEAR'S JT FIFTH FINISH IN FLORIDA

Murrayshall's Gavin Dear earned $233 for a joint fifth place finish in today's  Golfslinger.com Tour event in Florida, the Royal Palm Shoout, at the Links at Madidson Green. Dear, who lives at Scone, had a round of level par 72 and finished six shots behind the winner of the $1,000 prize, Jon Curran who birdied five of his last six holes for a 66. It was Curran's second win on the circuit this week. TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES IN THIS 18-HOLE EVENT CLICK HERE

FINAL TOTALS FROM SPANISH GECKO PRO TOUR EVENT

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LIVE SCORING FROM TIGER WOODS' TOURNEY IN CALIFORNIA

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PAUL LAWRIE SHARING THIRD PLACE IN SOUTH AFRICA

FROM THE SUNSHINE TOUR WEBSITE
Bill Haas carded two late drops (bogeys) in an otherwise impressive first round at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and signed for 70 to share the lead with Nicolas Colsaerts.
“I felt like I was doing a lot of good things,” said Haas. “I’m happy with two-under, because it’s playing tough out there. Here the rough seems to be more penal – if you’re in it, you’re in trouble.”
Playing his first Nedbank Golf Challenge, Haas found the layout at Gary Player Country Club quite tricky, yet good ball-striking ensures that he stayed away from the deadly rough.
“It’s an honour to be invited here, and I don’t take that for granted. I love this place and I’ve really enjoyed the week. I’m probably one of the highest-ranked players in the world here, but guys that have played here before have more confidence on certain tricky tee shots,” he said.
A four-time winner on the US PGA Tour, Haas followed in the footsteps of his father Jay, who teed it up earlier in the day for the Nedbank Champions Challenge. It’s the first time a father and son have played the two tournaments simultaneously.
“I was playing seven green and my dad was on 13 green and we could see each other. It’s neat to feel like his peer this week. I saw that he shot one-under and I’m a couple under. It’s a good feeling to shoot some good scores – we didn’t win it today, but we didn’t shoot ourselves out of it. So far, so good,” said Haas junior.
Joining the American on two-under was Colsaerts. The long-hitting Belgian had to adapt to a course that punishes anything off the fairway.
“I normally hit it very long off the tee, but around here I chose a less aggressive strategy, even when I was hitting driver. I played the same game as everyone,” he said.
“The greens are rolling a bit quicker today, but you can still stop the ball very easily. The way these greens are prepared, and the fact that only 20 guys are walking on them, makes them a dream for any golfer to play on.”
Louis Oosthuizen, Paul Lawrie and defending champion Lee Westwood shared third on one-under, while Francesco Molinari, Charl Schwartzel, Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson and Carl Pettersson all reached the clubhouse in level-par.
In the Champions Challenge Bernhard Langer showed his class, with an opening 68. If the difference in tees is ignored then his four-under-par was the low-round of the day and by the close of play the German held a three-stroke lead.
“I hit the ball beautifully. I drove it extremely well, hit a lot of greens and gave myself a lot of chances. Overall it’s been a steady, solid round. No bogeys, and that’s always fun,” he said. 

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LIVE SCORING FROM THE US PGA TOUR FINAL Q SCHOOL

Day 2 at the US PGA Tour Final Qualifying School in California and you can access the live-scoring service website by

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JOY FOR MACAULAY AND ORR BUT HEARTBREAK FOR GEORGE MURRAY AT Q SCHOOL

By COLIN FARQUHARSON Colin@scottishgolfview.com Gary Orr and Callum Macaulay (pictured) were the only two of the nine Scots in the starting field of 156 who succeeded in winning playing rights on the European Tour by finishing among the leading players with totals of five-under-par 423 and better at the Final Qualifying School at PGA Catalunya in north-east Spain today. There was a heart-break finish for George Murray who missed a putt of about 2ft at the very last hole of the 108-hole marathon - and he missed out by one stroke. Scottish amateur champion at Carnoustie in 2008, Macaulay from Tulliallan finished in contrasting style. He holed "fantastic putts" of 15ft at the 17th (for a par 4) and 25ft at the 18th (for a birdie 3) to finish with a one-under-par 71 and a six under par total of 422, one shot inside the limit qualifying mark in joint 20th place. Macaulay had a roller-coaster inward half with a birdie at the 12th, a bogey at the 13th, a birdie at the 15th and a bogey at the short 16th before his dramatic finish. Callum, who had his wife Clare-Marie caddieing for him - "She was awesome," he Twittered - is wasting no time in returning to the European Tour for which he lost his player's card at the end of the 2009 season. He will play in the first event of the European Tour's 2013 international schedule which actually starts next week with the Nelson Mandela Championship at Durban, South Africa.  Macaulay said:  "There were times during the last two years when I thought I would never be on the tour again and my game was going backwards. "I got off to a great start to the season and everything just went pear-shaped in the middle of the season. Today has just turned a mediocre year into a great one." Helensburgh-born Gary Orr became the oldest player to win a card at the Qualifying School Final Stage, at 45 years and 202 days, 20 years after he first achieved the feat. Orr bogeyed the last for a 73 and a five-under-par total of 423, the limit mark for the 28 qualifiers for the Big League. Anstruther's George Murray had been within the likely qualifying zone since he started the six-round eliminator with a 66 but he dropped out of it on the very day it matter most. Not surprisingly he was distraught at letting next year's big-earning opportunity slip through his fingers. Birdies at the 14th and 15th had him on course for a European Tour card but then he shed three shots to par over the last three holes. A bogey at the short 16th, followed by a par at the 17th had him on the last tee needing a par or a bogey to qualify - but Murray took a double bogey 6 for a 74 and a four-under-total of 424 - one shot too many.  Alastair Forsyth and Andrew McArthur finished well out of the hunt, both on the one-over 429 mark. Forsyth signed off with a 75, and McArthur a 71. Had the latter scored a 74 instead of an 80 on the opening day he would earned a European Tour card. Yorkshireman John Parry led the 28 card-earners and his own return to The European Tour in swashbuckling style by winning the Qualifying School Final Stage by four shots courtesy of a two under par 70 in the sixth and final round. The former Walker Cup player from Harrogate had his 26th birthday on November 17.  Carly Booth's boyfriend and sometimes caddie, Estanislao (Tano) Goya, who made the early running at the Q School Final School, kept his form going well to finish joint fourth on 417. MIKE STEWART: YOU FEEL FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED OUT    Inverness-born Mike Stewart, European Tour Tournament Director, said at the conclusion of the tournament: “The new championship tees, narrower fairways and modified greens at the 3rd and 11th on the Stadium Course proved a fine test of skill and nerve.  “Starting out (in Stage 1) with a field of more than 870 contenders, it is fitting that the Final Stage should be played on a course that sets the standard for European Tour events.  "You can sense the elation and relief of the 28 who take home their player cards – but you feel for those who have missed out.”

YORKSHIREMAN PARRY WINS Q SCHOOL BY FOUR SHOTS

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
 
Yorkshireman John Parry secured his return to The European Tour in swashbuckling style by winning the Qualifying School Final Stage by four shots courtesy of a two under par 70 in the sixth and final round today.
The 26-year-old former Walker Cup player (pictured) from Harrogate - he had his birthday on November 18 - began the day four shots clear and his lead was never threatened at PGA Catalunya Resort in northern Spain, where 28 players earned their playing rights for The 2013 European Tour International Schedule.
The gruelling event has become synonymous with drama over the years, and this edition was no different, providing emotions at either end of the spectrum. 
Young Englishman Chris Lloyd saved the best until last with a five under par 67 to make a late jump into the qualifying spots
At the top of the leaderboard, Parry soared to a convincing win, posting four birdies and two bogeys to finish four ahead of Mikael Lundberg, who closed with a 69, and six clear of Andy Sullivan, who repeated his 2011 performance in taking third place.“I’m delighted,” said Parry, who won the 2010 Vivendi Cup but then lost his card the following season after finishing 126th in The Race to Dubai. 
“I knew I had my card sewn up before today started, but I was going for the win and I’m happy to have got the job done.
“It was nice to do it with a bit of a cushion going into the last few holes. I played pretty poorly for the first seven holes. The first two I made good up-and-downs and I was lucky to have a shot out of the trees on the third and made birdie there.
“I was playing too negatively, and I think the bogey on the seventh gave me a bit of a kick to start playing how I was in the previous rounds. After that it was plain sailing.”
Parry, who is the fourth consecutive English winner of the Final Stage, following Simon Khan (2009), Simon Wakefield (2010) and David Dixon (2011), believes the presence of his fitness trainer during the tournament was an important factor in the victory, as was the decision to arrive at PGA Catalunya Resort six days before the first round for some intensive practice.
“It’s been great having my trainer here and he has guided me through the week,” he said. “It’s easy to think with six rounds to play the down-time should be spent relaxing, but I’ve been doing weights every evening this week and I feel great. Even today I felt very fresh.
“I arrived nearly a week before the start, so I was able to get five full practice rounds in and it has turned out to be a good move.
“I’ve been playing like this for the last couple of months, but the difference this week was my putting. I’ve been working hard on all areas of my game, but on my putting in particular, so it is nice that it is paying off.
“I’ll be playing the next couple of weeks in South Africa, so there won’t be much time to reflect on this, but after Christmas it looks like I’ll have a good few weeks off so my break can come then.”
Lundberg was five shots back at the start of round six, and admitted he was just relieved to be finished after a long and tiring week.
“I started really nicely, but lost a bit of concentration on the tenth and 11th, where I had my only two bogeys of the day,” he said. 
“I knew it was going to be difficult to catch John, so I’m just happy to take second place and finish the week with a Tour card. It’s a relief.”
Peter Erofejeff shared fourth spot with Argentine Estanislao Goya and German amateur Moritz Lampert, and the Finn was glad to be able to return home in time for the birth of his first child.
He said: “The baby was due yesterday and I agreed with my wife that if it came early I would stay here and play. So I’m very glad it hasn’t happened yet. I’m absolutely delighted and it’s going to be a very exciting few months coming up.”
Former Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson finished with a level par 72 and a three under par aggregate score, two shy of the required mark.

FINAL TOTALS
Par 428 (4x72, 2x70)

THE LEADING 28 PLAYERS WON EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYING RIGHTS

409 J Parry (Eng) 71 71 64 67 66 70

413 M Lundberg (Swe) 68 68 65 73 70 69

415 A Sullivan (Eng) 71 67 65 69 72 71

417 E Goya (Arg) 64 71 64 73 76 69; P Erofejeff (Fin) 72 67 66 73 69 70; M Lampert (am) (Ger) 70 67 65 71 70 74

418 D Gaunt (Aus) 74 68 68 69 69 70; M Southgate  (Eng) 72 70 65 68 68 75

419 E De La Riva  (Esp) 70 70 65 73 70 71; R McEvoy  (Eng) 67 72 64 70 73 73; M Nixon (Eng) 68 72 67 68 70 74; A Snobeck  (Fra) 69 67 68 69 72 74; M Korhonen (Fin) 74 62 66 71 70 76

420 M Delpodio  (Ita) 67 69 65 79 69 71; B Åkesson (Swe) 70 72 66 67 70 75

421 C Lloyd (Eng) 73 69 68 75 69 67; M Jonzon (Swe) 74 69 66 70 73 69; D Higgins (Irl) 73 64 68 74 72 70; M Madsen  (Den) 78 66 64 70 70 73;

422 C Macaulay  (Sco) 71 71 66 74 69 71; S Little (Eng) 70 68 67 77 69 71; O Floren  (Swe) 71 66 70 72 71 72; J Lagergren (Swe) 71 66 67 70 74 74;

423 A Levy (Fra) 68 72 71 67 75 70; L Jensen (Den) 70 74 65 74 69 71; S Arnold  (Aus) 67 73 67 72 73 71; C Del Moral (Esp) 70 71 68 72 70 72; G Orr (Sco) 67 69 68 74 72 73

FAILED TO WIN EUROPEAN TOUR PLAYING RIGHTS

424 D Griffiths  (Eng) 67 72 70 75 69 71; G Murray  (Sco) 66 71 70 71 72 74

425 J Barnes (Eng) 77 69 74 65 72 68; T Fisher Jnr (RSA) 69 71 71 74 70 70; S Benson (Eng) 75 70 67 70 72 71; O Wilson (Eng) 75 68 72 70 68 72; P Hedblom (Swe) 70 69 66 76 72 72; J Timmis (Eng) 74 69 66 77 66 73; B An (Kor) 69 72 66 75 70 73; J Lima  (Por) 76 67 64 74 71 73

426 J Ruth  (Eng) 70 71 69 76 71 69; H Bacher (Aut) 74 68 66 75 74 69; A Domingo (Esp) 70 70 69 72 74 71

428 D Kemmer (USA) 79 66 74 66 71 72; M Sell  (Eng) 74 67 68 73 70 76

429 S Hutsby  (Eng) 74 68 73 70 73 71; J Hugo  (RSA) 71 72 64 77 74 71; A McArthur  (Sco) 80 67 71 65 75 71; G Boyd  (Eng) 76 70 73 67 70 73; C Brazillier  (Fra) 69 74 66 75 72 73; A Marshall (Eng) 75 67 67 77 69 74; A Forsyth (Sco) 75 65 68 75 71 75; T Remkes (Ned) 71 72 68 69 72 77; D Im (USA) 72 66 70 72 70 79

430 T Murray (Eng) 68 72 70 73 76 71; M Brier (Aut) 71 69 73 70 75 72

431 C Kim (USA) 73 66 69 77 74 72; T Haylock  (Eng) 74 72 71 68 72 74; J Huldahl (Den) 76 70 72 66 72 75; S Dodd (Wal) 77 70 68 68 73 75; M Glauert (Ger) 73 70 64 74 74 76

432 W Besseling  (Ned) 69 73 70 72 78 70; S Kim (Kor) 78 67 77 63 75 72; T Pilkadaris (Aus) 75 73 71 67 73 73; F Calmels  (Fra) 72 72 65 75 74 74; J Glennemo (Swe) 72 69 68 73 76 74; D Dixon (Eng) 72 74 73 66 72 75; O Bekker (RSA) 73 72 71 67 74 75; N Ravano (Ita) 74 70 69 72 71 76

433 D Vancsik (Arg) 75 68 68 73 75 74; Å Nilsson (Swe) 74 69 68 74 73 75

434 J Howarth (Eng) 75 67 69 75 77 71

435 R McGowan  (Eng) 77 71 70 66 75 76

438 S Norris  (RSA) 68 72 71 73 80 74

444 T Van Der Walt (RSA) 71 69 70 72 81 81

LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE WARM TO GOLF IN THE DEPTHS OF WINTER?

  FEBRUARY 9 to 16, based at HAMMAMET, TUNISIA

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GUNN HAS SIGHTS SET ON ANOTHER BIG ARIZONA CHEQUE

Dornoch exile Jimmy Gunn is heading for another big cheque from the latest All-American Professional Golf Tour event at the Papago course, near Phoenix.
In first outing of the winter season, Gunn finished fourth and earned $3,005.
In this week's 54-hole event, Gunn has shot 72-64 to be lying seventh on eight-under-par 136 - five shots behind the American leader, Tom Glissmeyer (65-66 for 131).
  

JAMES BYRNE HAS OPENING ROUND OF 70 IN KING'S CUP

NEWS RELEASE FROM ASIAN TOUR
Khon Kaen, Thailand:  

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat found himself back on familiar ground when he fired a brilliant nine-under-par 63 to take the opening round lead at the King’s Cup on Thursday.

Not since his wire-to-wire victory in the Philippines earlier this year has Singapore’s number one golfer secured pole position. But he did so brilliantly this week by marking his card with 10 birdies against one bogey at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club.
James Byrne from Banchory and Ross Bain, a Middle East-based Scot, both shot two-under 70s
Byrne birdied the third, fourth and 10th. His only bogey came at the long seventh. 

Morning round leader Supakorn Utaipat of Thailand took full advantage of his second ever start on the Asian Tour by posting a 64 to take a share of second place with England’s Chris Rodgers while Australia’s Rick Kulacz signed for a 65 to take equal fourth place alongside Spain’s Javi Colomo and Thailand’s Arnond Vongvanij, Prom Meesawat and Udorn Duangdecha who is the defending champion.

Mardan got his campaign off to a commanding start when he fired four birdies on holes three, five, six and seven to turn in 32.  He moved to five-under after another birdie on the par-four 12^th.

The Singaporean’s only blemish came on the following hole where he bogeyed the par-three 13^th.

However, that setback was only momentary as the 45-year-old veteran stormed home with five birdies on the trot starting from the 14^th.

“It has been some time since I shot nine-under and obviously it’s a very good score that I can be very proud of,” said Mardan.

“I holed many putts and that was basically the key to such a good round today. What made me happier is that I haven’t been putting well for some time and today’s putting was really the best I’ve putted all year,” added the three-time Asian Tour winner.

Having only turned professional this year, Supakorn was delighted with his encouraging start to his title ambitions at the King’s Cup, which is the third last event on the 2012 Asian Tour Schedule.

The burly 22-year-old teed up for his first Asian Tour event at the Queen’s Cup in June but failed to make it into the weekend rounds when he missed the cut by six shots.

Five months later, Supakorn is ready for another shot at glory aided by a new set of clubs in his bag.

“I changed my entire bag, starting with the driver, putter and irons. This is a new set of golf clubs that I’ve got and I’m happy with where it has got me today,” said Supakorn.

“I’ve played on this golf course on several occasions previously and this is my best result so far. Hopefully, I can carry this good form for the next three rounds,” added the Thai.

Rodgers meanwhile showed great resolve in regaining his Tour card which he lost last year.

It was also the first time he had lost his full playing rights on the Asian Tour since his maiden victory in Pakistan in 2008.

“After my win, I got a bit comfortable playing on the Asian Tour and enjoying myself. Last year was a bit of a struggle as I didn’t putt very well and ended up missing my card. You certainly realise you’re missing out a lot and coming back this year with very limited status, it gives you lots of time to practice and reflect,” said Rodgers.

“There’s everything to play for this week and I know I need a big finish. You can’t win a tournament with just one round but each time you start with an eight-under-64, it is a great start and I hope I can carry this on,” added Rodgers.

The King’s Cup is making its return after a year’s absence following the floods in Thailand last year and is already enjoying a welcome revival with its prize fund increasing to US$500,000 this year.

 

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES

Par 72. Yardage: 7,418

63 Mardan MAMAT (SIN).

64 Supakorn UTAIPAT (THA), Chris RODGERS (ENG).

65 Rick KULACZ (AUS), Udorn DUANGDECHA (THA), Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA), Prom MEESAWAT (THA), Javi COLOMO (ESP).

66 Felipe AGUILAR (CHI), LIN Wen-tang (TPE), Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA), Wittawat SAE-UNG (THA).

67 Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), LEE Sung (KOR), Boonchu RUANGKIT (THA), Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA).

68 Jesper KENNEGARD (SWE), Atthaphon PRATHUMMANEE (THA), Elmer SALVADOR (PHI), Tawan PHONGPHUN (am, THA), Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA), Tim STEWART (AUS), Lindsay RENOLDS (CAN).

69 Vuttipong PUANGKAEW (THA), Taiki HARA (THA), Nadeem INYAT (PAK), Gerry NORQUIST (USA), Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA), Atiwit JANEWATTANANOND (THA), Apisit NIMUNUAL (THA), Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA), Miguel TABUENA (PHI), Andrew DODT (AUS), Antonio LASCUNA (PHI), MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Panuwat MUENLEK (THA), Sutijet KOORATANAPISAN (THA), Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG), Michael TRAN (VNM), Kwanchai TANNIN (THA), Sukree OTHMAN (MAS), Pol KEMMARAT (THA), Kalle SAMOOJA (FIN), Varut CHOMCHALAM (THA), Pablo HERRERIA (ESP), LAM Chih Bing (SIN), Quincy QUEK (SIN).

 

Selected scores

70 James Byrne (Sco), Ross Bain (Sco).

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HIGGINBOTTOM ON A ROLL - LEADS NSW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

FROM THE PGA OF AUSTRALIA WEBSITE
New South Welshman Jake Higginbottom has continued the momentum from his BMW NZ Open win as an amateur at the weekend to lead the NSW PGA Championship following the first round of play at Mt. Broughton Golf and Country Club today.
The 19-year-old rookie pro birdied his final hole of the day to take a one stroke lead into the second round over fellow New South Welshman Brendan Smith.
Carding nine birdies and two bogeys for a 7-under 65 total, Higginbottom also claimed the Mt. Broughton course record, previously set at 2-under 70.
“I don’t hit it super long, but the fairways are firm and the course doesn’t play as long as it actually is, but it’s a good course and it suits my game,” said Higginbottom who played alongside Matt Griffin and Nick Cullen, both winners on OneAsia during 2012.
“It’s good to play with guys like that because you challenge yourself and it pushes you along a little bit and makes you play better.”
Despite a turbulent week, Higginbottom seems to be taking the new-found attention all in his stride.
In the last five days he has won his first PGA Tour of Australasia tournament and made the big decision to turn Professional, now eligible to take home his first pay cheque this week.
“It’s been pretty busy, I’ve had a lot of phone calls, but it’s good,” laughed Higginbottom, who is now exempt on the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia for the next two years and has automatic entry into the second round of the US PGA and European Tour Q schools.
“It was a decision I made after winning the tournament. With all the exemptions I received it would have been stupid not to turn Professional.”
In second position on this week’s leaderboard, Brendan Smith posted the best round of his 2012 PGA Tour of Australasia season, shooting a 6-under 66.
“I played here a couple of years ago as a junior, so I’m quite familiar with it, but they’ve cut the rough out a bit since last I’ve seen it so it seems a bit easier than last time,” said Smith, who has struggled with health and swing issues throughout the season.
“My swing was in all sorts at the start of the year, and I’ve put a lot of hard work in to get it back. And now it’s in a position where I feel like I can start playing well...I just feel good again.”
Smith was joined at 6-under by Adam Stephens, who shot the round of the afternoon field.
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Sweden’s Thomas Petersson and New South Welshman Matthew Stieger currently share fourth position at 5-under par.

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R AND A CHIEF SAYS OPPOSITION TO OLD COURSE CHANGES IS HYSTERICAL

 FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN  
Peter Dawson, the R and A chief executive, has labelled criticisms of the proposed changes to the Old Course as “hysterical” as players such as Tiger Woods and Ian Poulter question the necessity for alterations to the game’s most hallowed links
The architect Martin Hawtree has been contracted on a two-year project for the first significant changes to the famous St Andrews layout in 70 years, in time for the 2015 Open. In all, nine of the holes will be altered, with the most controversial being that to the 17th — the Road Hole. The notorious greenside bunker is in the process of being widened by 20 inches, with the front contour of the green reshaped to ensure the sand gathers more approach shots. 
The outcry was as inevitable as Dawson’s response that the fury was “knee-jerk”. It did not help the R and A’s cause that while the belly-putter was being banned the finger was being pointed at them for allowing the advent of the “turbocharged” golf ball and “space-age” driver. 
The governing body plainly feels obliged to protect the integrity of its most historic courses. But at what cost? Poulter was under no doubt, firing off a series of outraged tweets. 
“I know, let’s draw a moustache on the Mona Lisa,” he wrote. “Same as messing with a great course – St Andrews.” 
He added: “If they make changes to the Old Course they are insane. The course is great, just keep the  winning score up to Mother Nature.” 
At the Dunhill Links this year, France’s Victor Dubuisson and South Africa’s George Coetzee scored 10-under-par 62s, while at the 2010 Open Rory McIlroy signed for a 63, the lowest first round in major history. 
“They were obviously fearing a 59,” the Scottish European Tour professional Stephen Gallacher said. Yet many believe that concern was unfounded. 
The average round from the 2010 Open was more than 73, while the average score on the par-four 17th was more than 4.6. 
“I think 17 is hard enough as it is,” Woods said. “I don’t think we need to make that bunker any deeper or bigger.” 
For the first time since 1949, new bunkers are being introduced – on the right side of the third fairway and another on the left side of the ninth fairway 20 yards short of the green. 
Another controversial more will be to lower the back of the par-three 11th green, to allow for more pin positions. 
Such is the strength of opposition, Tom Doak, one of the world’s leading architects, has vowed to petition the R and A and the St Andrews Links Trust to stop the work and already has the support of other influential figures, including the American Society of Golf Course Architects’ president, Bob Cupp. 
But the R and A is unswayed. 
“We have considered the challenge presented to the world’s top golfers by each of the Open Championship venues and carried out a programme of improvements over the last 10 years. 
"While some holes have been lengthened on the Old Course in recent years it has otherwise remained largely unaltered,” Dawson said. 
“The championship committee felt there was an opportunity to stiffen its defences in some places to ensure it remains as challenging as ever to the professionals. 
"The proposals should place more of a premium on accuracy and ball control while retaining the spirit and character of the Old Course.”