A real tale of triumph and tragedy

The story of Old and Young Tom Morris, two of the most iconic figures in golf’s early history, is a tale of triumph and tragedy.

Between them these working class local heroes from St Andrews won eight of the first 12 Open Championships and set countless records, many of which still stand.

But Young Tom Morris died on Christmas Day in 1875 aged just 24.

The official cause of death was a pulmonary haemorrhage though, as his wife Margaret and new born son had tragically died in childbirth three months earlier, many speculated he succumbed to a broken heart.

Tommy’s Honour director Jason Connery, who shares a love of golf with his dad Sean, knew “smatterings” about the Morris’ story.

But only when producer Jim Kreutzer contacted him did he become aware of the “magnitude” of the tragic tale and how the Morris’ had been idolised in Scotland and beyond.

“It’s an extraordinary story and I’m amazed it hadn’t been turned into a film before,” Jason said.

“I’m also really surprised that people that consider themselves golf’s aficionados hadn’t made more of it. This was really the beginning of the modern game.

“I think I caught Jim (the producer) off guard though when I said I didn’t think it was a golf movie. It was a film about people, with sport as the background.

“It was very important to get that authentic feel for golf as it was in the 19th Century. I wanted the grass to look like it had been mown by sheep with the greens looking very rough. That feel was very important.”