EXCLUSIVE
script
Tiger Woods could tempt the Voice of Golf to retire with victory at The 150th Open but Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth tipped to claim Claret Jug
Arriving at the mystical town of St Andrews feels like stepping onto an old Hollywood film set.
And Tiger Woods could write the greatest script of all-time with a victory at The 150th Open.
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But the 15-time Major champion isn’t the only legend returning to the Home of Golf against all the odds.
The Voice of Golf, Bob Bubka, has also moved heaven and earth to be at the famous Old Course.
Like Woods, his presence creates a genuine buzz in the media tent, and health issues last year meant that coming to the 150th edition of golf's oldest tournament was more a pipe dream.
“Every time I go past the sign that says ‘Welcome to St Andrews’, something magical takes place,” Bob, now 80, tells talkSPORT.
“The anticipation level goes up. My excitement level goes up. My enthusiasm level goes up.
“I can’t put a finger on it. I can’t duplicate it. If I could bottle it up and sell it, I’d be a billionaire.
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“It’s where it all started. I’ve been here enough, but every time I still feel so blessed.
“I’m not here for money. Not only would I do this for free, I would pay to do it.”
Woods and Jack Nicklaus, the two best golfers in history, have gone out of their way to welcome Bob back to St Andrews.
And his partner in crime, Rupert Bell, captures the feeling of hearing that famous voice bellow around this iconic venue once again.
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He tells talkSPORT: “To have Bob back here, knowing what he’s gone through to get here, to see him back and get my usual level of abuse is a strangely feel-good thing.
“We’ve always enjoyed working together. To see him back here in such good spirits is great.
“Everyone is so pleased to see him, driving around like Lewis Hamilton in the Bob-mobile. It’s fantastic and really special.
“He was so moved going up to Nicklaus’ ceremony and it made what he’s gone through really special.”
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Three decades on from his first visit to St Andrews, Bob has seen it all - and a conversation with him is like reading golf’s most detailed encyclopedia.
If the Old Course is a film set, 18-time Major winner Nicklaus is its main protagonist - and his iconic farewell in 2005 remains the Voice of Golf’s favourite St Andrews moment.
Bob recalls: “Jack teed off on the 18th hole and every player on the range stopped hitting golf balls, they put their clubs down.
“Every spectator on the course, everyone in the hotels - they were all out on the balcony. Everybody wanted to say, ‘I saw Jack play his last Open’.
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“I don’t blame them. Players were overwhelmed. Can you imagine how I was? I got to interview him right after he made the birdie putt.
“That’s top. Tiger could top it this week. But if he doesn’t? That memory of Jack is as good as it gets.”
Woods has shot down suggestions of a goodbye wave on the Swilcan Bridge this week - and Bob isn’t going anywhere either.
But having watched all of Woods’ 15 Major triumphs, a 16th at The 150th Open might persuade him to reconsider.
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“If I’m going to write the Hollywood story, it’ll be Tiger,” Bob says. “He has the ability to change this from the greatest golf event ever played, to one of the greatest sport stories ever written.
“That’s what Tiger does. He transcends golf, it becomes bigger than that.
“I remember 1986 when Jack won the Masters, he walked into the media centre at 6.12pm. At 10.12pm, four hours later, he was still in there, nobody had left.
“If Tiger wins, the press conference may last until Monday morning.
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“The only thing I can say - the magnitude of that happening? I would be tempted to hang it up, put the mic down.
“I love what I do and I don’t want to give it up. I’m just saying, something like that might tempt me.
“That is the highest high. I would know what heaven felt like.”
Can Tiger win? Absolutely. Is it likely? Unfortunately not - but Bob has another special story in mind.
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Rory McIlroy, without a Major win since his Open and PGA victories 2014, can make the last eight years irrelevant by claiming what he described as golf’s Holy Grail.
“I’ve fancied Rory all along. I just think he’s overdue,” Bob continues.
“He’s very much a historian, he knows the added significance. Winning The Open is one thing, winning an Open at St Andrews is a whole different level.
“I think he has the motivation to get it done, I think he’s been trending in the right direction. He’s my choice.”
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Rupert, on the other hand, is expecting former Open champion Jordan Spieth to triumph at the place where he came so close in 2015.
“My tip is Jordan,” Rupert said. “The key will be making five-foot putts - and I think he will be able to do that.
“As an outside bet, I think Padraig [Harrington] is someone who might be able to get into the top 20.
“He’s hitting the ball so far and he never thinks he’s not going to win. Keep a watching brief on him.
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“As much as I would love Rory to win, I just think he will come up short.
“And then I think Shane Lowry is a good bet to finish in the top ten as well.”
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Whatever happens,the actors know their lines and the scene is set for one of the greatest weeks in golf’s history.
Hear live coverage of The Open on talkSPORT 2 from Thursday and catch regular updates from Bob, Rupert and Sean O'Brien on talkSPORT
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