Morning:
12°c
Organisers delighted by Open crowds
21.07.08
The Open attracted just over 200,000 spectators - the sixth highest attendance in its 137 years.
Organisers are delighted especially as a number of factors conspired against the Championship at Royal Birkdale.
"It's a pretty stunning achievement given the weather, the economic situation and the absence of Tiger Woods," said Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson today.
"All credit to golf fans in this part of the country. We haven't had all the television viewing figures yet, but the first day was about 20 per cent up on last year."
The new 'skateboard park' contours of the 17th green had been a hot topic of debate coming into the event. But Dawson said: "We will pause for reflection on it now. It was not the great disaster it was built up to be."
