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at Sandwich in 1981, his agent was the legendary Mark McCormack, who had him literally playing all over the world. Rogers made many stops in lands which were part of the old British Empire. “They felt like the Open championship was theirs, and I was overwhelmed everywhere I went. It was a wonderful experience,” Rogers said.

As the sun was setting late Sunday, the hierarchy of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which runs the championship, more than likely were enjoying a single malt and planning for next year’s tournament when the championship returns to St. Andrews and the Old Course.

That will be the 150th Open championship, which will, assuming no COVID complications, make it a milestone event. Rooms will be impossible to come by and a record attendance will likely come about.

The “Auld Grey Toon” that is St. Andrews will resonate with the international community. The town will be overrun with shoppers, tourists and golf aficionados. Rooms already have been sold out for some time. And at inflated rates. You can find dinner reservations next to the needle in the haystack.

The Open championship is always a favored event throughout the United Kingdom, but when it returns to St. Andrews, its widespread appeal is stratospheric.