The first top-ranked professional to play the Old Course at St Andrews since controversial changes were made to the historic links has given it her seal of approval.
England’s Melanie Reid was at the Home to Golf on Monday to launch the countdown to the return of the Ricoh Women’s British Open to St Andrews this July, six years on from the hugely successful debut of the championship on the Old Course.
And Reid, who played in that Women’s Open as an 18-year-old amateur finishing in the top 20 and many times in the annual St Rule Trophy played on the Old Course every May, described the alterations “very subtle” after playing the links.
“I was expecting bigger changes, if I’m being honest,” said Reid, now 24 and one of Britain’s finest women professionals. “But they’re very subtle, which I like.
“I played it a lot in the St Rule Trophy when I was amateur and I qualified for the Women’s British Open the first time it was here, which was a big goal of mine at the time,” she recalled.
“I think the most obvious change is the two bunkers close to the second green, which makes the right side not as much of a bail-out as it had been.”
The changes that Reid most supports are actually two of the more controversial, among those described from across the Atlantic as “sacrilege”.
“The 11th I think they needed to change because now the pin can be put on the left side, and Hill Bunker which was never brought into play now is, and it’s a great bunker,” she continued.
“I also like what they’ve done at 17th because everything swales to the Road Hole Bunker now when before you could hit a not-too-horrendous shot but end up being absolutely screwed because you end up just short of the bunker. That was much worse than being in it, and I think that’s a really good change.”
The women will be the first professionals to see the changes in play when they come for their championship from August 1-4, and Mel fondly recalls her first champion-ship, when the then world No 1 Lorena Ochoa took the title.
“It does whet the appetite to come back here, there such an aura at St Andrews,” she said. “It’s great for us to play such a historic course and also at a venue the men play so often, and I know all the girls are very excited to come back.
“I was still an amateur when I played here the last time but I was pretty young, cocky and full of confidence when I was 18 and thought I was going to win!
“I love it here straight from the start, when I first played when I was 17. I never found it daunting, I love the fact that people are watching you from the big window of the R&A clubhouse to me that’s just more people to show off in front of!
“Automatically when you step on the first tee at St Andrews you’re so happy to be there and you feel you’re already one-up. I just feel very happy here and always enjoyed my golf in Scotland.”
Defending the title she won at Royal Livcerpool last year will be South Korea’s Jiyai Shin, her second British Open win after Sunningdale in 2008.
She said: “I loved visiting St Andrews in 2007 but at the time I wasn’t very experienced in playing links golf so this time I think I will have a much better chance.
“Each year I have learned so much about playing on links courses and, at Hoylake, I managed to put everything into practice to achieve such a special win. I hope I can do the same this year as I think winning a major on the Old Course might be the very best thing you can experience in golf.”
Ladies Golfing Union CEO Shona Malcolm said bringing the championship back to St Andrews was part of the LGU’s drive to play the very best venues.
“The 2007 Championship was an unprecedented success and we have all been looking forward to the second edition to be held here at the Old Course,” she said.