Here At The British Open

I always get fired up for the Majors. Especially this year's Womens' British Open played at St Andrews. This historical place is the home of golf. Legends like Palmer, Nicklaus and Woods have all walked over the famous Swilken Bridge on the eighteenth hole. Thousands of fans and golf enthusiast travel from all around the world to experience and photograph this magical place.

This town has hosted many big championships throughout the last century. This little University town lights up on special moments. And yes, this week was very special. A milestone for Women's golf, a breakthrough moment for the R&A and hopefully the beginning of more status and respect to our Major Championships.

In 1990 I played in an amateur event here called the St Rule's trophy. I was a naive teenager with very little golf experience at the time, especially links golf! I knew very little about the history of this course, and the incredible shots that those who hoisted the claret jug had created in order to secure a victory. I learned a lot that week about the home of golf, and even hoisted a small trophy myself at the end of the week.

And here I am back, 17 years later, hoping for the same result. I am obviously a different golfer and person now, but I am still excited to play this course again. St Andrews is a typical links course: flat land with dunes, double greens and pot bunkers. It's the ultimate challenge I think, where the course changes daily, actually hourly. Its location by the sea creates conditions only Mother Nature can handle at times. The front nine takes you from the clubhouse all the way out to the furthest point. The holes are mixed in length and difficulty. This sets the stage for the return, a brutal comeback with long and challenging par fours. If the wind is howling into your face, par seems like birdie, and triple bogies are not uncommon.

My game for the week was mixed as I had some great moments and then some tough ones. I played pretty well Thursday and Friday and seemed ready for a good weekend. I thought I played pretty well, and used my imagination on seemingly every hole. However, no matter what I did on the weekend, my 70 foot putts for birdie seemed like the norm. The Old Course is one of those places where margin for error is measured in inches, and a good shot can easily turn out catastrophic, and vice versa.

I would say the highlight of the week... aside from us women competing on the Old Course... was that I had the opportunity to stay in a renovated condominium, directly next door to Old Tom Morris' place. We were only 14 steps from the 18th green! I even squeezed in a quick visit to the graveyard to pay tribute to the man who created golf as we know it. This completed a historic and memorable week. I have always respected this game and after this week I feel even more honored to have had the chance to have walk over the famous bridge and witnessed what I believe will be the new beginning for Women's golf.

--A

Comments

[Karla Villegas]

I had the chance to be there, it was an amazing week I must say. I was very happy to walk the course and watch every single shot from the greatest woman golfer ever. From the practice rounds to the last round, it was a pleasure, as always!

Greetings from Mexico...