ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – For 41 Open Championships it has been one voice, Ivor Robson’s voice, that marked the time. When he takes to the tee at 6:32 a.m. on Thursday it will mark the beginning of the end for the iconic first tee announcer.
The 144th Open will be Robson’s last as the first tee announcer, ending a tenure that began at the Open in 1975 at Carnoustie. He hasn’t missed a championship or a tee time since.
“I feel you can’t go on forever and if you’re going to step off there’s no better place to do it than here,” said Robson, who began his week announcing for Wednesday’s Champion Golfers’ Challenge.