Las Vegas, Nev. (July 9, 2015)–It’s one of those iconic events that everyone knows: The Open Championship. And 2015 marks the final competitive appearance at the event for Tom Watson, a 5-time winner. You can honor the career of Watson plus play replica holes of the prestigious Open Championship courses when you play Las Vegas’ Royal Links Golf Club. Click now to reserve your Las Vegas Royal Links tee times at the official website of this memorable Las Vegas course. St. Andrews is the host of the 2015 Open and is a favorite of Watson. Continue reading to view an interview with Watson about St. Andrews and his Open Championship memories. –By Bill Bowman
This year’s event is set for July 16-19 at the Old Course in St. Andrews. The Open has been played since 1860 and has been contested on some of the best links courses. Layouts like St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon, Muirfield, Turnberry and other historic designs have seen the world’s best golfers tee it up to try and become the champion golfer of the year. Each is replicated at Royal Links. But it is St. Andrews, the home of golf, that rises to the top in the eyes of most champions.
“When you think of golf, you think of St. Andrews,” Watson said after receiving an exemption into the event and in a video interview that was recently released. “This is a fitting place for me to end my career here at St. Andrews in Scotland. This will be my last time, for sure, to cross the Swilcan Bridge in an Open championship.”
Royal Links Golf Club, located just minutes from the famed Las Vegas Strip, has incorporated replica holes into an 18-hole masterpiece. Designed by Dye Designs International, 11 of the Open Championship courses (14 total courses have played host to the Open Championship) have golf holes in the layout. And that includes the Old Course at St. Andrews which has hosted the Open Championship 28 times.
The Open Championship has been played since 1860 and this year’s event marks the 40th anniversary of Tom Watson’s first of five Open Championship victories (at Carnoustie in 1975 in a playoff over Jack Newton of Australia).
At Royal Links, the 5th hole, a 322-yard, par-4, was designed after the 12th hole at the Old Course. And then there’s the 10th, a 466-yard, par-4 that replicates the famous Road Hole (pictured) at the Old Course. Royal Links’ finishing hole, the 515-year, par-5 18th, was inspired by the 14th at the Old Course. Click for a hole-by-hole view of Royal Links.
So even though you might not be able to travel across The Pond to play, Royal Links will give players the chance to take on some of the golf holes that the world’s best golfers will be playing at the Open Championship. We believe both you and Tom Watson deserve this Vegas golf moment.
Watson is a Polo Ralph Lauren Ambassador, and is celebrating a 22 year partnership with the brand. Ralph Lauren is Patron and Official Outfitter of The 144th Open.