Champion golfers whose victories span 60 years of Open history took part in the Champion Golfers’ Challenge at St Andrews ahead of the 144th Open Championship.
Large crowds turned out, and the sun even put in an appearance, as some of golf’s greatest legends played the first, second, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course to warm applause.
The trip down memory lane was extra special for two of golf’s greatest players, Peter Thomson and Tom Watson, who are celebrating historic milestones in their remarkable careers.
Thomson is marking the 60th anniversary of his win in the Open at St Andrews in 1955 while Watson played on the 40th anniversary of his debut in the Open in 1975 when he became Champion Golfer of the Year at Carnoustie.
The four-hole challenge was contested by an array of players who each share the distinction of having won the Open.
And the seven teams taking part included other big names such as Tiger Woods, Mark O’ Meara, Arnold Palmer and Sir Nick Faldo.
The winning team, securing a prize of £100,000 for charity, was Team Palmer.
Round one of the Open the 29th to be staged at St Andrews tees off at 6.32am today. In all, 156 entrants will go round in 52 groups of three.
For the first time this year’s winner, to be crowned on Sunday, will claim a prize of more than £1 million.
Wednesday’s final practice day saw decent crowds brave awful conditions in the middle of the day, with frequent showers and a distinct chill in the air.
Light rain is possible on the championship’s first day.
The R&A’s championship committee chairman Peter Unsworth predicted a “wonderful atmosphere”.
He said: “In the five years since the Open was last held in St Andrews we have made substantial investment in enhancing the spectator experience at the championship.
“As ever, mother nature will have a big say in how the course plays over the next few days but the greenkeeping team has done a fantastic job of preparing the course.”