The Open: Tournament officials announce Old Course revamp

Tournament organisers of The Open have announced several holes on the iconic Old Course will be lengthened before golf's oldest major returns to St Andrews in 2027.

The R&A said the fifth, sixth, seventh, 10th, 11th and 16th with be lengthened as part of "a programme of enhancements and restoration at the Old Course". 

One hole, the 12th, will be reduced slightly. It means that the overall yardage of the course will increase by 132 yards to 7,445 from the championship tees.

Elsewhere, the Road Hole bunker on the iconic 17th hole will be "sympathetically restored to reduce the effect of sand splash build-up over time."

Work will begin on 3 November and will be carried out by golf course architects and links golf specialists Mackenzie & Ebert.

The 2027 Open will be played at the Old Course over 11-18 July. Australia's Cameron Smith won the claret jug when it was last held there in 2022. 

Scottie Scheffler is the reigning Open champion and will defend his title at Royal Birkdale in 2026. 

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said their approach is "grounded in deep respect for the course's unparalleled history". 

He added: "We believe this work is important in ensuring the Old Course continues to evolve and challenge the world's best golfers in the years to come while enhancing the experience of local and visiting golfers."

This is not the first time substantial changes have been made to the Old Course. 

As many as 60 bunkers were added between 1899 and 1905, as well as nearly 350 yards of length being added across the 129th Open in 2000 and 134th Open in 2005.

The most recent adjustments of significance were undertaken in advance of the 144th Open in 2015, which included bunker additions and removal. 

The back left portion of the 11th green was also regraded, allowing for the creation of more pin positions.  

The R&A say one of the most significant areas of work will be on the 16th hole where an historic playing route will be restored to the left of the Principal's Nose and Deacon Sime bunkers along with the addition of two bunkers to add risk on the left hand side of the extended fairway

New championship tees will be created on the fifth, adding 35 yards, the sixth, adding 17 yards, the seventh, adding 22 yards, and the 10th, adding 29 yards. 

Tee enlargements will see increases in length at the 11th (21 yards) and the 16th (10 yards).

On the second, the two right side drive length bunkers will be relocated farther on and to the left to make them more relevant to the line of play. 

New bunkers will be added at elite level drive length on the sixth and the 10th. 

On the ninth, the right side approach bunkers will be extended slightly toward the line of play, including Boase's Bunker which will be restored to its larger and less rounded shape.