Security steps up as Tiger Woods and other golf stars head to St Andrews

More than 50,000 people are expected to visit the home of golf each day throughout the competition.

The Open: Security steps up as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and other golf stars head to St Andrews — Tiger Woods, pictured on the Old Course in 2010, is among the stars due to play in St Andrews. SNS Group

16th Jun 2022

Security is being tightened in St Andrews as record-breaking crowds prepare to flock for the 150th Open Championship golf.

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the Old Course each day with Police Scotland calling in thousands of officers from across the country.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are among the stars due to compete for the major championship between July 14-17.

A range of security resources will be deployed as part of ‘Project Servator’, which police launched on Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Derek McEwan told STV News: “Project Servator allows for us to deploy police officers in uniform and specialist resources within the communities and up on the golf course itself.

“There will be an element of disruption but St. Andrews for a week is at the centre of the golfing world.

“It’s something that I think we should all enjoy.”

The Old Course last hosted The Open in 2015, but this year is a milestone anniversary, and it’s attracting record-breaking crowds.

“We ended up having 1.3 million ticket applications so we had a ballot which was the fairest way,” said Jonnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

“We’ve got 80,000 people coming over the first four practice days and then we have 52,500 people coming each championship day, so it’s a total of just over 290,000 people coming for the week.”