R&A chief executive Peter Dawson is confident the changes to the Old Course will continue to get approval of the world’s top players as they converge on St Andrews for the Open Championship next month.
Dawson, awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list, retires this year after 15 years at the head of the golf’s most historic organisation and admits he expects to feel some emotion when he calls the name of the new champion for the last time at the Open presentation ceremony.
However, he expects that the much-debated and controversial alterations to parts of the old Course will pass muster with the few top names who have yet to see them.
“There were changes before every one of the more recent Opens, and we are very pleased with the changes that have gone in,” he said.
“Most people who have played the course don’t realise that the changes have been made, frankly.
“No prominent player who has played the course since the changes were made has complained out it to us, quite the opposite in fact.
“For example Ernie (Els), the last time he was in St Andrews, was very complimentary about the new bunker at nine. He felt it needed it.”
One very distinguished Open champion gave his blessing to one of the most contentious changes on a recent visit to St Andrews, added Dawson.
“Tom Watson was here just a couple of weeks ago and I believe he played to the 11th green several times,” he continued. “I was pleased to read he approves of the work that has been done there.
“With modern green speeds you couldn’t have put a pin position in July on the left, and of course there’s a great history at 11 with Bobby Jones in the bunker in 1920.
“Now we’ve got two more pin positions on the left of the green. I don’t know how many of them we’ll use.”
Tiger Woods has yet to see the changes, but the former World No 1 has confirmed his attendance at the venue where he won the Claret Jug in 2000 and 2005, despite his recent struggles with his game.
“He was one of the first to enter, and he has agreed to play in our past champions four-hole event on the eve of the championship, so we are looking forward to seeing him,” added Dawson.
“I feel for him. In my time at the R&A he has been the number one player almost the entire time. He’s been a great draw for the game, arguably, he is the best player there has ever been, some would say.
“It is sad to see him not playing as well, but I wouldn’t underestimate his determination to get back. You would hope his great memories of St Andrews would rekindle something.”
Dawson came in to the post succeeding Sir Michael Bonallack at St Andrews in 2000, and he’ll bow out there this year, retiring officially in September when Martin Slumbers will take over.
“I look forward to every Open, but St Andrews Opens have a special atmosphere, no question about that,” he said. “No doubt we’ll get another wonderful winner, but who it will be I have no idea.
“It was very nice indeed to be honoured with an OBE, but it is a team effort. People always say this when they get awards, I know, but it really is the case at the R&A.
“I’m proud of the way the Open has progressed, and I believe that the game has been governed well by the R&A and USGA. There hasn’t been the kind of scandals you see in some other sports.
“I’m proud of seeing the way the staff at the R&A has grown and developed.”
Dawson will move to concerning himself with golf’s debut in the Olympics in Rio on leaving his post, but despite having piloted sensitive matters the sport’s re-entry into the Games and the R&A’s acceptance of women members, he believes there is still “lots to do”.
“Martin has tons to do, that’s why we get bigger and better people every time,” he said. “Participation is one issue, and I know Martin has zoomed in on that as a priority for the future.
“Part of the reason we concentrate on our commercial activities is that we get the funding to help participation going forward. There are challenges out there for our game, as there are for other sports.”
His last public act, however will be the traditional scene on the 18th green of the Old Course on July 19 when, in time-honoured fashion, he announces “The Champion Golfer of the Year”.
“Will I have a frog in my throat when I do that for the last time? It’s hard to tell, something will come up, no doubt! We’ll have to wait and see.”