The Open goes back to St Andrews

The Open Championship, the third of the year's four majors, will return to St Andrews for the 27th time in 2005, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club announced today.

The Open was first staged at the Old Course on Scotland's east coast in 1873.

This year's Open Championship will be at Muirfield from 18-21 July, the 2003 event will be at Royal St George's and, in 2004, the championship will go to Troon.

St Andrews, known as "the home of golf ", last held The Open in 2000 when Tiger Woods triumphed by a record eight shots to become the youngest player to win all four majors.

ADAM SCOTT, the defending champion, has withdrawn from the Dunhill Championship which begins in Johannesburg on Thursday.

"Adam pulled out because his father was involved in a boating accident," said press officer Lali Stander.

Scott, 21, claimed the Dunhill title, his first on the European Tour, at Houghton Golf Club 12 months ago. The Australian birdied the final hole to narrowly beat England's Justin Rose to the title.

South African Tim Clark, winner of last week's South African Open in Durban, is among the field at Houghton, which also features fellow countrymen Ernie Els and US Open champion Retief Goosen.

MARK O'MEARA, the former Open champion, and seven times European No 1 Colin Montgomerie will join a host of top players at this year's Dubai Desert Classic.

O'Meara, the 1998 Open winner, and 1996 Dubai winner Montgomerie, will be competing for the European Tour title from 7-10 March with defending champion Thomas Bjorn and Darren Clark.