...As locals make £65,000 in a week by renting out their homes to fans
SCOTLAND is teeing up for the biggest sporting event of the decade as the historic 150th Open golf tournament begins next week.
An anticipated 290,000 spectators are set to watch the action on the Old Course at St Andrews, the ‘home of golf’.
With the biggest attendance in the history of the Open, the contest is expected to deliver a £200 million economic boost for Fife.
International stars of the sport will gather for the championship, plus a host of celebrity fans and a legion of TV crews from around the world.
The winner will walk away with prize money of around £1.6 million, but the tournament will also bring a windfall for local residents, with some householders renting out their semi-detached homes for a staggering £65,000 a week. Meanwhile, for the legendary Tiger Woods, the contest represents a chance to win a record third Open at St Andrews.
Having survived a car crash and battled injury, Woods recently revealed he is saving himself from tournament burnout to ensure he is ready to head to Scotland.
He said: ‘I won’t be playing a full schedule ever again. It’ll be just the big events. I am looking forward to St Andrews. That’s something that’s very near and dear to my heart.
‘I’ve won two Opens there. It’s the home of golf. It’s my favourite golf course in the world. So I will be there for that one.’
Home owners in St Andrews are cashing in on the demand for accommodation – and even rooms in the university halls where Prince William met Kate Middleton when they boarded there as students 20 years ago are being offered for £250 per night.
Celebrity watchers will also be on the lookout for showbiz golf fans such as Samuel L Jackson, Bill Murray and Kevin Costner, who may even pop in for a drink at St Andrews golfing pubs such as The One Under, Hams Hame and the Jigger Inn.
Mark McIntosh, of the St Andrews Property Centre, said: ‘If you are a wealthy golfing fan, this represents the holiday of a lifetime.
‘It’s going to be bigger, bolder and better than anything we have seen before and I doubt if St Andrews knows what’s about to hit it.’ Even the sun is set to shine on the famous Old Course, with bright spells and temperatures of 19C (66F) forecast for the majority of the championship.
Police Scotland said it will deploy significant resources in and around the town, including dogs, horses and armed officers.
Chief Superintendent Derek McEwan, divisional commander for Fife, said: ‘The Open will be one of the biggest events in Scotland this year and it should be a historic occasion for the community and golf fans across the world.
‘We want people to be reassured by our visible presence. Our planning for this has been ongoing for several months alongside the organisers and other key partners as we look to help the R&A deliver a safe and secure event.’