ST ANDREWS NEEDS PROTECTION FROM BIG-HITTERS

GreG NormaN believes time is running out if St andrews is to be preserved as a future open venue. The two-time winner of the Claret Jug harbours genuine fears that the Home of Golf will be ransacked by the leading players at the 150th edition next year, and the oldest of old Courses will prove simply too old to be a fitting challenge. ‘It’s my favourite course on the rota and it would be heartbreaking to see it become outdated but it’s in danger of being the reality,’ the charismatic australian told Sportsmail. ‘I can’t see what else they can do to lengthen it anymore.’ Norman is calling on the r&a to introduce revolutionary changes this winter to how far the ball travels, to ensure the festival of golf next year doesn’t turn into an inquest of self-recrimination. ‘I can understand why the ball manufacturers might be upset but it’s the only way we can keep St andrews on the rota and for it to play remotely how it’s supposed to be played,’ argued Norman (pictured). ‘It’s not as if people are going to stop buying golf balls. For the sake of the old Course, it’s just vital the golf balls have different specifications next year, for we’re on the edge as it is.’ It’s a familiar topic, of course, but one given increasing urgency with the closeness of next year’s open landmark. Without action before the start of the majors season next year, it’s quite likely that, under benign conditions, players like Bryson DeChambeau could drive around half of the 14 par fours at St andrews. Behind the scenes, there are plenty echoing Norman’s thoughts that a critical point has now been reached, and it will be interesting to see if the r&a have any comment to make during the open. With the conclusions to their long-running Distance Insights Project expected soon, they’ll surely have plenty to say after the ryder Cup. The 149th edition of The open takes place at royal St George’s next week, where Norman claimed his second open crown in 1993 seven years after his victory at Turnberry in frightful weather in 1986. ‘I’m proud of the fact that I won the Claret Jug both in the sunshine, the wind and the rain,’ said Norman, now fully recovered from a nasty bout of coronavirus last December that resulted in two hospital stays. ‘I just had the right ball flight for The open. Caddies would always complement me on the fact that I hit the ball pin high every time, and that’s because I had such control of my ball flight.’