No danger of underplaying the significance of the Open's glorious history

This year's Open Championship is, as you must have heard by now, a biggie.

It's the 150th running of a tournament first held in 1860 and to mark the occasion a "commemorative brand" has been launched, featuring the message: "Everything has led to this".

It's a bold slogan, for sure. They're certainly not underplaying the historical significance of the 150th Open. But it's hard to disagree with the thrust of the argument that everything that has happened since 1860 – the world wars, the Russian revolution, the space race, the advent of the internet – has been a mere prelude to a late Sunday afternoon at St Andrews, where a nine-foot putt from Patrick Cantlay squirms past the hole, confirming a one-shot triumph for Viktor Hovland.

Perhaps Billy Joel should be commissioned by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews to tweak the lyrics of his classic 'We Didn't Start The Fire':

"Buddy Holly, Ben Hur, space monkey, Kevin Na/
Hula hoops, Castro, boo Bryson DeChambeau/
U2, Syngman Rhee, don't mess up that par three/
Scottie Scheffler, Sergio, Rory's shanked it, oh no!"

For all the understandable excitement about the sponsorship opportunities – sorry, the sporting magnitude – of the 150th Open, there is no escaping the dark clouds looming over the landscape of professional golf.

Players who have signed up for the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series are permitted to play at St Andrews this week although Greg Norman, the two-time Open champion and face of the LIV breakaway, was not invited to join the celebrations.

We've all attended weddings with this kind of edgy atmosphere. You know how it plays out: a bit of side-eye between the bride's supporters and the groom's ultras, the odd catty comment, then some rogue uncle, who's really done himself justice at the free bar, interrupts the best man's speech to deliver some home truths of his own.

I'm sure the thought of crashing Sunday's presentation ceremony hasn't crossed Norman's mind although he's already responded to the snub from the R&A, saying: "It's petty, as all I have done is prompt and grow the game of golf globally for more than four decades."

You might have thought that ethos would chime with the Open organisers. After all, in the early years of the tournament, when Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris had a grip on the trophy, they took the then-controversial decision to expand the game and attract a more diverse talent base by allowing Scottish men not named Tom Morris to participate.

Anyway, let's not get bogged down in acrimonious matters. This is the time to honour the unique history of the Open Championship, perhaps by purchasing a special souvenir £1 coin which is being advertised online.

It's been "issued by the government of Gibraltar and fully approved by the R&A" and, yes, it does bear the official line: "Everything has led to this" – a phrase that sounds less celebratory and more wearily resigned each time I hear it.

Still, this £1 coin is available to buy for £9.99 (plus £2.99 postage and packaging) which makes it better value than most of my Open bets this week.

Not got a Paddy Power account? Sign up and get up to £50 in free sports bets

Place a single £10 Sportsbook bet and get money back as a free bet if it loses. There are x5 Free Bets available. Max refund per qualifying bet is £10. Only deposits made via Credit/Debit Card will be eligible for the promotion. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport