Statue to honour Old Tom Morris gets go-ahead close to Old Course in St Andrews

Old Tom is a revered figure within the sport and a four-times Open champion. Born in St Andrews in 1821, he is generally regarded as the world's first professional golfer.

He finished second in the first Open Championship in 1860, and won the Claret Jug in 1861, in 1862, 1864 and 1867. He is buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Cathedral.

Now, a new statue is aimed at inspiring today’s golfers as they play one of the greatest links courses in the world.

The Old Tom Statue Project Group has agreed with Build Heritage for a site in Golf Place which would give it strong connections to the adjacent course, and this week its plans were formally approved by Fife Ciouncil.

It has alsoc commissioned David Annand to make the sculpture.

He has designed many statues in the UK and Ireland, including John Rattray on Leith Links in Edinburgh, and Bishop Wardlaw, the founder of the University of St Andrews.

A design statement, submitted as part of the application, said: “Given the historic associations with golf in St Andrews, the erection of a statue in this location has the potential to make a positive contribution to the setting of the surrounding listed buildings and to the character and appearance of this part of the conservation area.”

In December, the St Andrews Links Trust gave the statue plan its backing, and the aim is to have it unveiled in time for the AIG Women’s Open which is expected to bring 50,000 golf fans to town in late August.

The event has already prompted the local authority to relax rules on short term lets to ensure there is sufficient accommodation to house visitors.

Ronald Sandford who chairs the project group, previously said: “Old Tom was a legend in his own lifetime and known then as the Grand Old Man of Golf. Be it winner of four Opens, or the creator of over 100 courses, he is Scotland’s greatest golfing icon and it is appropriate that St Andrews should herald one of its finest sons.”

The idea for a statue came after Mr Sanford saw a sculpture to Old Tom while playing Rosapenna in County Donegal - “that statue was my inspiration and proved to be the beginning of a long running odyssey.’

Mr Annand said sculpting the statue was “the opportunity of a lifetime “ and added: “It may well be a new target line for those playing from the 18th tee. My hope is that a few words with Old Tom before you tee off the first will settle any first tee nerves.”

As well as being a champion golfer, Old Tom also helped to design courses across the UK. His work included Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy Golf Clubs, as well as the Jubilee Course in St Andrews.