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St Andrews 2024

'It ate me alive'

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England keeper Jordan Pickford says St Andrews will test world's best

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford trains at Euro 2024

St Andrews has tested the great and good of golf for centuries, and it recently claimed its latest, unlikely, victim – England men's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The home of golf will stage this year’s AIG Women’s Open between 22-25 August.

Three Lions ace Pickford was among a number of celebrities invited to play a round on the famous Old Course as the final major of the year draws ever nearer.

A respectable golfer, Pickford played in The Open Invitational at Royal Liverpool last summer, but admits he endured a nightmare at St Andrews just a few weeks ago.

Jordan Pickford at St Andrews

Pickford poses with the AIG Women's Open trophy at St Andrews

He said: “I played on quite a chilled day weather wise, but it still ate me alive so now I appreciate how much of a challenge it will be for the players.

“But these are the best golfers in the world so they’ll do far better than me, obviously.

“Just going off my own experience, it will definitely be a great test for them and it will be mega to watch.”

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in training at Euro 2024

Pickford prepping for Serbia (photo courtesy of The FA via Getty Images)

Pickford is a member of Gareth Southgate's England squad who have made it to the Euro 2024 final in Germany.

The 30-year-old has appeared 67 times for his country since making his senior team debut in 2017.

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He has played in some of the greatest stadiums in the world including Old Trafford, Wembley and the Allianz Arena in Munich, and he holds as much respect for St Andrews as he does those iconic venues.

He said: “I’ve seen St Andrews on TV over the years but that was my first time playing the course.

Jordan Pickford on the 1st tee at St Andrews

Pickford swaps goalkeeper gloves for golf gloves

“The nerves definitely ramp up once you get to the 1st tee! But once I got that first shot away I settled down a bit.

“It was great to get the opportunity to play there. It’s just a great course to go round – it’s not called the home of golf for nothing. What a place!

“Imagine what it would be like to be playing there with a trophy at stake – that would be something else.”


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