Thats a GREEEEEEEEEEEAT story.

Not under the 18th, but close to the course.

Tom Morris Sr. "Old Tom" Morris was one of the most accomplished golfers of all time. He won the Open Championship four times between 1861-1867. Tom kept working right up until his death, just before his 87th birthday. He died after falling down a flight of stairs in the clubhouse of the New Golf Club in St Andrews. He is buried in the grounds of the St Andrews Cathedral, and his grave attracts thousands of golfers who wish to pay homage.

His son Tom Morris Jr. "Young Tom" is also buried there having preceeded his father in death. There is a facinating story about that involving his wife's pregnancy and a famous match between the Morris' and the Parks.

Actually, there are many fascinating stories involving the Morris' and you'd do well to search them out.

Buck! I love ya buddy...but "Who is Tom Morris Sr."?????? You deserve a kick in the balls from sheep-caddy for that one...

Yep. It's like asking who Babe Ruth was in a historical context.

I will answer this over several segments.

#1- Tom Morris is not buried in the 18th Fairway of the Old Course, but there are people buried on the 18th. I will get into more details about who Old Tom Morris was and his importance to golf later. What is of note is why there is a plaque to Old Tom on the 18th. The Old Course's 18th hole is named after Tom Morris partly because he is the Father of Golf but more importantly he designed the 18th and built it with his bare hands.

As to the dead bodies they lie under the Valley of Sin (yes thats how the name came about). This is a lost piece of history that few people know. When Old Tom built the green he came across a ton of dead bodies buried under what is now called the Valley of Sin. The bodies may have predated golf...pre-1400 and were believed to be a mass burial from a previous plague.

That's Mr. Tom Morris, show some respect!

Cont'd...
Old Tom Morris might be the most important person in all of golf history. If it weren't for Old Tom Morris St. Andrews may have been just another course in Scotland.

How important is Old Tom?
• He is considered the first golf professional
• He is also considered the first golf course superintendent
• Some of Old Tom's golfing innovations survive even today. He designed the first golf course irrigation system and discovered top dressing greens with sand to build a healthier green and one that putted fast.
• He was a rules expert and was the sole source on handicapping and rulings
• He was also the caddy master
• On top of all of these things he was also a clubmaker and ball maker for all of St Andrews.
• Old Tom is also the father of modern day golf course architecture designing some of Scotland's most famous courses as well as some of Ireland's.
• Old Tom was also a 4 time Open Champion
• Old Tom's greatest creation was his son, Young Tom Morris. Every golfer should know Young Tom Morris because he dominated golf like no golfer that ever lived. He is the reason the Open winner wins the Claret Jug. How good was Young Tom? He is still the Youngest major championship winner at the age of 19. From that win all he did was win 3 more Opens in a row...4 in a row total and then he died (some say of a broken heart) at the age of 24. He still holds the greatest margin of victory in an Open and was the first golfer to record a hole in one and a double eagle in a major.

The Morris family built the game of golf, they changed the game of golf and they are the patron saints of the game.

I would recommend the book, Tommy's Honor which tells the amazing story of the Morris family, their love for each other and the game that held them together.

Actually thats incorrect...Mister in those days was a title given to amateurs, and both father and son were professionals and would have been called by their first names. Being a pro prior to Walter Hagen was certainly no complement. Many pros were considered caddies who were often thought of as dirty gambling drunks. That being said Morris and his son were not dirty nor drunks...gamblers... well yes. They would play for a year's income (and thats not an exaggeration).

I stand corrected. Henceforth we shall refer to him a "Sir Tom Morris"?

Stop piling on Bucknut. 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. Before he uses Google to get instant answers to any question, Bucknut takes the nostalgic route and consults his Encyclopedia Britannica...but only after physically going to the library and thumbing through the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. Give him some time. Perhaps the pages on Tom Morris were glued together, rendering info inaccessible.

lmfao, hey I have never heard about him on Stracka before. You know where I learned that? THE INTERNET! Everything is true on the internet!

My brother's name is Bill. He's a Dick also. (lol)

but then again......so am I. --------------------> LOL.

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Man I love that
Im taking it

Kick me too because I had idea who he was. ( let me get a cup on first)