Old Tom Morris’ life has always been closely tied to St. Andrews.
Apart from the stint at Prestwick Golf Club (where he played a major role in the birth of the Open Championship, Ed.), we could say, despite himself, Morris Senior certainly lived the most important moments of his professional life at St. Andrews.
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Born in St. Andrews, the son of a weaver, he began playing golf on the street, using bottle corks, shaped for use, as balls and a club he made himself.
After that, like many of his peers, he began to work as a caddy and, at the age of 14, he was taken on as an apprentice by Allan Robertson, universally recognized as the first professional golfer in history, who ran the St. Andrews Links and an equipment manufacturing business.
Under Robertson he rose through the ranks, becoming the second best player at St. Andrews (strategically always one step behind his “boss”, Ed.) and a member of the St. Andrews Golf Club.
He moved to Prestwick due to a business dispute with Robertson who fired him.
The years of “exile” were important for him, however, as they provided an experience that completed his training and made him a well-rounded professional.
Morris returned to St. Andrews in 1864, specifically requested by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, and became the “Keeper of the Green”, as well as the regular professional.
It was during this phase that he left his indelible mark on the Old Course.
He widened the greens, widened the fairways and arranged the hazards, applying the techniques he had developed at Prestwick.
He completely redesigned the greens of hole 1 and hole 18.
For 39 years, without interruption, he took care of the most iconic course in the world.
Well, since last Wednesday this long and intense bond has been sanctioned by the installation on the course of a bronze statue of Old Tom Morris.
The effigy of the four-time Open Champion has been placed near the Bow Butt, which is located to the right of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (keeping it behind him, Editor’s note).
The bronze eyes will thus observe, for eternity, the places that Morris loved so much.