Tiger Woods was only a teenager when he first set eyes on a links golf course but he knew immediately he was embarking on a life-long love affair.
For most of the world’s professionals, the US Masters probably retains a slight edge as the most important of golf’s four major tournaments.
Woods may agree. But there is no doubt about which of the four he loves playing the most, or which provides the most complete test of the art of golf.
That was made clear when the American, who tees off here on Thursday aiming to become the first player since Peter Thomson to win three consecutive British Open titles, was asked to recall his feelings when he first pitched up at Carnoustie a dozen years ago.
Only 19 and still an amateur, Woods had come with his late father Earl to play in the Scottish Open in order to get some experience of links golf before making his debut in the British Open at St Andrews.
A first round 69 hinted at what was to come and although Woods faded over the remaining three days, he still adapted sufficiently well to finish the tournament in a respectable tie for 29th place.
“I absolutely loved it,” he recalled.
One of the consequences of Woods’ phenomenal success over the last decade has been the way tournament organisers have set out to ensure that their courses cannot be taken apart by the world number one.
‘Tiger-proofing’
‘Tiger-proofing’ has partly been about increasing the yardages, but it has also involved the introduction of rough so punitive that a sideways hack becomes the only available remedy for the slightest of misjudgements.
That in turn decreases the premium on an individual’s ability to invent shots to get themselves out of trouble while also reducing the options in terms of different ways to play the course.
“I love playing over here because it allows you to be creative,” said Woods. “Augusta used to be that way. The US Open is obviously not and the (US) PGA is kind of similar to a US Open setup.”