Bathed In Ancient Glory, The Game Moves On From St. Andrews

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND | Fewer than two hours after Cameron Smith had stood in front of the imposing R&A clubhouse and been declared the champion golfer of the year, the Old Course at St. Andrews was a public park again.

A couple hundred people ambled across the first and 18th fairways, some with their dogs and some headed to the Swilcan Bridge where a security guard monitored a line of visitors patiently waiting for their selfie moment.

The 150th Open Championship, as much a celebration as a competition, had been an overwhelming success, engulfing the ancient town and offering a memorable reminder of how good championship golf can be.

It answered multiple questions:

Is there a better player on and around the greens than Smith?

No.

Can the Old Course still challenge the best players in the world?

Yes, when it’s firm and fast like it was during the Open. It would have helped had the wind blown like it typically does, but the fact that Smith shot 20-under par spoke to how well he played.

Fears of som...