A really cool idea

Jordan Spieth is "honoured" to be part of The Open For The Ages, in association with HSBC, and expects the final-round broadcast to be "wildly entertaining".

Spieth, the Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Birkdale in 2017, is among a host of stellar names who will feature in the celebratory edition of The Open taking place over the next four days.

Archive footage from past Championships at St Andrews dating back to 1970 has been used to recreate the drama of an Open at the home of golf. The greatest Champions of the last 50 years will be shown competing together in their respective primes, culminating in a three-hour broadcast at 11am BST on Sunday that will be available to view on TV, digital and social media platforms. You can view highlights of the first round here.

"I think it's a really cool idea," said Spieth. "Everyone's got opinions on what they think it (the outcome) would be. Different people have different viewpoints on a lot of individuals, but ultimately your eyes are gonna be really drawn to anything that is like that show.

"It's cool to even be in the picture myself, I'm honoured.

"To be able to compare the greatest at what they've done in the sport of golf, to see Tiger (Woods) go against Jack (Nicklaus) and even bring in guys before their time, I'm not sure how it's gonna be possible but it's gonna be wildly entertaining."

If Spieth was actually able to compete in another era, he would choose to play long before he was born in 1993.

"It would have been really cool, I think, to go back and play in the 50s and 60s," he explained. "You get some (Ben) Hogan still and then you get Jack starting out, Arnold Palmer.

"That Arnie and Jack era that brought golf into where it is today, it would have been really cool to play back then. I would have liked to see how my game stood up then, just because of the clubs that were being used, having to control your spin a lot better than you do now. I just think there was a lot more precision with less of the distance and it would have been really interesting to see."

The use of St Andrews as the venue for The Open For The Ages also drew approval from Spieth, who finished one shot outside of a play-off when the Championship was last contested over the Old Course in 2015.

"It's just a fantastic links course, it stands the test of time," added the three-time major-winner.

"We absolutely look forward to it and love going, and are really glad it's in the rotation. I honestly wish it was in the rotation every couple of years because it's the home of golf. The R&A clubhouse, how you play right into town there at the end, the 17th and 18th holes, they're just incredible and you always have a fantastic finish there."

The Open For The Ages is in association with HSBC.