Campbell returns to St. Andrews a major winner

By OPENGOLF.com

A change to the numbering of the holes at Royal Liverpool means that the 135th Open Championship will finish on what has traditionally been Hoylake's 16th green. The adjustment to the order of play will make the 560-yard par 5 the closing hole and the 17th and 18th holes will be played as the first and second, respectively.

The course has been lengthened by 122 yards since the Amateur Championship was played over the historic links in 2000, and will be 263 yards longer than when Roberto de Vicenzo won the last Open to be held at Hoylake in 1967.

"We have slightly rearranged the way the holes are played to set competitors a more challenging final hole," said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A. "The 18th will present a birdie opportunity, but as a left-to-right dogleg with out of bounds ever present on the right, will also be a hole for potential disaster.

"Before knowing that The Open would be returning there, Royal Liverpool had foresight in exercising a strategic review of the entire course aimed at improving the flow from green to tee while also tightening up tee-shots, bunkering and green surrounds. The changes to Hoylake have worked very well."

The official card for the Royal Liverpool course for the 2006 Open Championship is: