NOT since the vast British fleet set sail for Trafalgar back in 1805 have there been as many poignant farewells as seen at St Andrews this week. One by one they marched up the Swilcan Bridge, before turning, raising a cap and waving a tear-stained goodbye to the galleries. Tom Watson was the most notable departure but Nick Faldo and Sandy Lyle have both also acknowledged that this would, almost certainly, be their last appearance in the Open Championship over the Old Course.
On Monday it was the turn of Mark O’Meara and Bernhard Langer. The German qualified for this year’s competition after winning the Senior Open Championship last year but, with the Open not set to return to St Andrews for another five years – possibly six – there was a frank admission from the two-times Masters winner that this was almost certainly his final bow at this stage. He has performed well here over the years – almost forgotten is the fact he tied for second in 1984 following the duel between winner Seve Ballesteros and Tom Watson – and will depart with a raft of good memories.
“I'd love to come back, but it's kind of unlikely, let's put it that way, because I've never won The Open Championship,” he said. “I would have to win the Senior Open championship to get exempt or qualify, and The Open doesn't come back here for another six years. I'll be 64 at that point, so it would be pretty tough to qualify or to win the Senior Open at age 64.
“It certainly crossed my mind on the Swilcan Bridge that this might be my last time playing The Open C here at St Andrews at The Home of Golf. It's a little bit emotional. It's been a wonderful tournament over four decades really for me, and I love the Scottish crowd, I love the links golf courses and all that, so it's been a big part of my life.”
There wasn’t too much time for Langer to stand around daydreaming about the past, however. He was heading straight to Sunningdale to start preparing for the defence of his Senior Open that starts on Thursday.
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