Golf crime: Vandals damage Old Tom Morris statue at St. Andrews
11/9/2024 | by Amit Pandey of AmateurGolf.com
The Old Tom Morris statue was unveiled on Oct. 2nd ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Just weeks after its unveiling, the statue of Old Tom Morris, presented by his great-great-granddaughter Sheila Walker with assistance from former British Open champion Sandy Lyle, has reportedly been vandalized. The statue, which was revealed in St Andrews on October 2, ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, honors one of golf’s most revered figures.
Roger McStravick, a leading golf historian and a key advocate behind the statue’s creation, shared the distressing news on social media. He said the culprits had snapped off the clubhead from the tribute, marking a senseless attack on the monument dedicated to Morris’ lasting legacy.
Gutted to say that the Tom Morris statue in St Andrews was vandalised last night. They snapped the clubbed off. See pics. Needless to say we are looking at all CCTV cameras including the R&A to see if the perpetrators have been caught in the act.
— roger mcstravick (@R_McStravick) November 9, 2024
If anyone has any information or… pic.twitter.com/EsU7ELB2Jy
Morris, a four-time British Open champion, was also instrumental in the design or redesign of 75 golf courses across the UK, including the prestigious courses at Prestwick, St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Portrush, and Carnoustie.
McStravick expressed his dismay, calling the incident “mindless.” He wrote, “I’m gutted to say that the Tom Morris statue was vandalized last night. They snapped the clubhead off. Needless to say, we are reviewing all CCTV footage, including from the R&A, to identify the perpetrators.
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