Vandals have damaged the statue of Old Tom Morris for the second time since it was unveiled in St Andrews less than four months ago.
Renowned golf historian Roger McStravick, who lives in St Andrews, the town known to the world as the “the Home of Golf”, relayed the news on social media after discovering the £100,000 sculpture had been targeted again.
“I don’t know what to say,” McStravick posted on X. “The Tom Morris statue has been damaged again. The club was snapped off and they didn’t leave the club this time.”
The organising committee which raised the funds for the overdue monument to the pioneering four-time winner of the Open had hoped that publicity created by the first act of vandalism – in which the club was also broken off – would deter any further destruction. It was restored within a few weeks.
However, they will surely now have to at least consider whether to relocate David Annand’s sculpture to a more secure spot. At the moment, it resides on common land, overlooking the 18th fairway of the Old Course where Morris forged his legend. McStravick told Telegraph Sport on Monday that other measures will first be taken.
“The plan is for it [the club] to be fixed and attached to his jacket,” he said. “This will be expensive. A hi-res camera on a nearby building had already been approved, but it takes time to get all the approvals. We are totally gutted.”
The initial damage attracted widespread outrage with Billy Horschel, the world No 20, pleading for the culprits to be “caught and fully punished by the law”. No arrest has yet been made. That incident was blamed on revellers in the university town and again, it seems that late-night shenanigans were the precursor.
“If anybody saw anything, please DM [direct message me],” McStravick added. “Seems that there was some partying going on. Broken glass near the statue etc.”
Connor T Lewis, the collector of rare clubs who runs a popular platform called “The Society of Golf Historians”, urged those responsible to try at least to make some amends. “This is why we can’t have good things,” he wrote. “Leave the statue of Old Tom Morris alone. I am nearly positive alcohol was involved. To whom it may concern: please return the club head.”
