NEWS

Seven teams to tee off in unique Open Champions Challenge at St. Andrews

By PGA.com
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Seven teams to tee off in unique Open Champions Challenge at St. Andrews

The R&A has announced the seven teams for the four-hole Open Champions Challenge, which is taking place next Wednesday, the day before the start of the 150th British Open. Each team will have a captain, with the captain being the most senior competitors on each squad. Peter Thomson, whose team of Tiger Woods, Sir Nick Faldo and Mark Calcavecchia boasts a total of 12 Open Championships among them, will be a non-playing captain as he is unable to play for medical reasons. The winning team will be presented with a check for approximately $75,000 to be donated to charities of their choice. We anticipate a very special occasion,” said David Hill, the R&A’s director of championships. “I am sure all supporters of the Open Championship will be excited by the prospect of seeing so many legends of the game make their way around the Old Course’s natural arena.” A total of 27 past champions are scheduled to participate. Seve Ballesteros was hoping to take part, but withdrew two weeks ago on medical advice as he continues his recovery from brain surgery. Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price and 89-year-old Australian Kel Nagle are also not competing. The Open Champions Challenge will be played over holes 1, 2, 17 & 18 of the Old Course. The best score recorded at each hole by an individual player will count as the team score. The teams are as follows: --Roberto de Vicenzo, Ben Curtis, Tom Lehman, Sandy Lyle --Peter Thomson, Mark Calcavecchia, Sir Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods --Arnold Palmer, Ian Baker-Finch, Stewart Cink, Mark O’Meara --Gary Player, Todd Hamilton, Justin Leonard, Greg Norman --Bob Charles, John Daly, David Duval, Bill Rogers --Lee Trevino, Padraig Harrington, Tony Jacklin, Paul Lawrie --Tom Weiskopf, Ernie Els, Tom Watson