Three of the four players who nailed down exemptions into the Open Championship with their play at the Travelers Championship — Carl Pettersson, Graham DeLaet, and Brian Harman — almost immediately pointed to the fact that it will be their first at St. Andrews.
DeLaet has played at Muirfield and Hoylake, Harman just at Hoylake, and Pettersson at Muirfield twice, Troon, Hoylake, Carnoustie, Turnberry, and St. George’s.
Luke Donald, the fourth player to earn an exemption, will be playing in his 15th Open and his fourth at the Old Course. The only course in the current rota on which he hasn’t played an Open Championship is Birkdale (he was hurt in 2008).