ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Everywhere you look here, the history of golf is staring right back.
From the fairways of the Old Course that opened before the American Revolution to the cemetery at the edge of town where Old and Young Tom Morris are buried, the game's roots are as firm as the grasp Tiger Woods currently holds on his rating as the world's top player.
It is why there is always a special feel whenever the British Open returns to St. Andrews, as it will beginning today. And because of what Woods has done in a spectacular career that peaked with last month's 15-stroke victory in the U.S. Open, the 129th British Open might become of the most memorable.
Listen to Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 professional major championships and reputation as the game's greatest player Woods is chasing.
"As I grew up and used to go down to Augusta, Bobby Jones always talked a little about his golf and a little bit of different things," Nicklaus recalled earlier this week. "He always said that a great golfer's record is never complete until he wins at St. Andrews. I think he felt that about himself."
It is what pushed Nicklaus to win here in 1970 in a playoff over Doug Sanders after finishing second to Tony Lema six years before. It is what drove Nicklaus to win again eight years later after twice losing by a shot, first to Lee Trevino in 1972 in their famous showdown at Muirfield and later to Tom Watson in 1977 at Turnberry.
It is what brings Nicklaus, 60, back this year for perhaps the final British Open of his legendary career.
"My two favorite places in the game of golf are Augusta and St. Andrews," said Nicklaus, a three-time British Open champion and a record six-time Masters champion. "It [St. Andrews] is a place that has always been very special to me and special to a lot of people. It is most enjoyable to be back."
Nicklaus played here for the first time in 1964, finishing five shots behind Lema. He had been told by his father that the course was too rough.
"I didn't know what to expect when I came here," Nicklaus said. "My first time around the golf course, I said, `Dad, you're all wet. This is a great place to play the game of golf.' He wasn't a tournament golfer. He was the average guy who comes from the States looking for lush, green grass and big, tall trees. I don't think you find many of them out there."
