This third staging of the Hero Open returns to the Fairmont St. Andrews resort for the second time after making its debut during the pandemic at the Forest of Arden Resort in England.

With few star players in the field at this time of year it is another opportunity for some of the Tour’s lesser knowns to shine and while not in the league of its famous neighbour to the north the Torrance course at Fairmont should provide for some interesting golf.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Scotland’s Grant Forrest celebrated the first Scottish win on home soil in nine years with a thrilling finish in 2021.

England’s James Morrison set the clubhouse target Sunday with a stunning nine-under 63 but Forrest as up to the task, back-to-back birdies at the final two holes sealing the win.

RIGHT: Local boy Grant Forrest captured his maiden DP World Tour title, and a decent sized bottle of plonk, here last year. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

It was Forrest’s first – and to this point only – DP World Tour title though he was in the mix last week at Hillside and will likely be a factor again this week.

COURSE: 

While St. Andrews is famed as the home of golf and the Old Course dates back several centuries the Fairmont Resort is the polar opposite.

The brainchild of American billionaire Don Panoz, the resort opened around the turn of the last century and despite being less than 20 years old has already undergone several changes.

A 36 hole complex boasting two courses – The Kittocks and The Torrance – it is the latter (named after European Tour stalwart and co-designer Sam) which hosts the professionals.

The first thing to now about the Fairmont is that despite its location it is not a Links. The property was a farm prior to Panoz’s purchase and is more clifftop than seaside golf.

Unlike so many courses in the area there is little about Fairmont that is natural with the bulk of the architectural interest built into the landscape.

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While it pales in comparison to so many of its neighbours the course is a victim of its location in some respects, a non-links layout unlikely to meet with much approval in an area coveted for its links golf.

All that aside the course is far from poor and, as evidenced by last year’s finish, will ensure a close contest among the pros which is what tournament golf is ultimately about.

The closing three holes attract most of the attention here with the par-4 16th featuring a green sitting on the edge of a cliff 100 feet above the beach. Long is not an option here and there will be some interesting shots seen if the wind is up.

The 17th is a strong par-3 where par is a good score while the reachable par-5 18th will provide plenty of excitement at the finish.

It may be in the 'Auld Grey Toon' but the Fairmont Resort in St. Andrews is very different to The Old Course. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.
PRIZEMONEY: US$1,750,000
 

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Defending champion Grant Forrest will like his chances this week after a solid showing at Hillside in England last week.

The Scot finished third behind countryman Richie Ramsay after a solid week of golf on a course that demanded both thought and execution.

It will be a different test this week, but one Forest is clearly comfortable with and at this level the positives of previous good performance can be enough to make a difference.

While Forrest was in the field last week New Zealand’s Ryan Fox as taking a well-earned break following The Open at St. Andrews.

The New Zealander missed the cut at The Old Course but it was his fifth straight week of tournament golf and while he had been playing well fatigue was likely a factor.

Two weeks off will have done him good, and he will be keen to make up for what must have been a bitter disappointment in a major he seemed likely to contend in.

Of the regular DP World Tour contingent two names stood out after last week’s final round at Hillside: France’s Julien Guerrier and Scotland’s Callum Shinkwin.

Guerrier held the third round lead and while overtaken Sunday didn’t play poorly. He was T16 at this course in 2021 with four sub 70 rounds and will be confident heading to Thursday.

Shinkwin also performed well here last year with a T15 result but his strong finish on a difficult scoring day in England last week is what will hold him in good stead.

A four-under 68 was bettered by only four players on the day and the Englishman looks due a good week.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264 (Grant Forrest, 2021)

18-HOLE RECORD AT HILLSIDE: 63 (Calum Hill and James Morrison, 2021)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No Australian has won this event.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Scott Hend, Austin Batista, Zach Murray, Jake McLeod, Jarryd Felton, Blake Windred, and Dimi Papadatos

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 9pm – 2am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 8pm – 12.30am)
*AEST, check local guides