The real stars of the British Open are the finishing holes

From St. Andrews, Scotland — 

The likely stars of this year’s British Open were in a docile mood Tuesday, unusual for both of them.

Still, there would be no interviews. They will let their actions speak. Always have.

The sun shone, breezes were gentle and seagulls drifted overhead. The field of talented golfers here to compete, starting Thursday, for the cherished Claret Jug, went through casual practice rounds. Fans gathered autographs, people in short sleeves sipped drinks and watched from nearby balconies, and the seaside town of St. Andrews bustled with business, especially at its dozens of golf shops. If it had Old Tom Morris printed on it, it sold.

The only news of the day was Tiger Woods’ saying he was changing putters after more than a decade. That prompted one-liners in the press room about being more loyal to one’s putter than one’s wife. Shameful to stoop that low.

Those are the little things that turn attention from the two real stars. But that will change soon.

The weather will shift Wednesday, bringing rain and heavier wind and making St. Andrews its usual unmatchable test of golf. That weather helps the stars here, holes No. 17 and 18, show their teeth. Odds are, come Sunday in the States, when TV delivers the final nine holes of this 150th British Open, the winner will be the best survivor of Nos. 17 and 18.

A virtual tour of the monster-mash finish is in order.

The holes add up to a half-mile dogleg of civilization on the right — hotels, restaurants, buildings — and, on 17, seaside nature on the left — lumpy fairways and two-foot gorse. The gorse is reminiscent of your neighbor who has never owned a lawn mower; finding balls reminiscent of a needle in a haystack.

The stars have vastly different temperaments, which makes them stars. No. 17 is always rated one of the more difficult holes in British Open history, No. 18, one of the easiest. Together, their yin and yang is powerful theater.

The left side of No. 18’s fairway is actually the No. 1 fairway, also one of the easiest holes in British Opens. The two holes present such a wide expanse, a huge rectangle of short grass and big bumps, that you could put many entire muni courses in the space. A drive that misses the 18th fairway is a signal to quit the game.

No. 17 plays 495 yards, No. 18 is 357. Both are par fours.

The tee shot on No. 17 fits no golfer’s eye. The first sight in direct line is a big sign on the side of a wall that says: “Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa.” The line to a fairway that has one wide spot of maybe 50 yards and more of about 20, is directly over the corner of the building with the sign, a shed connected to the hotel. Missing left produces gorse and a treasure hunt. Missing right brings a second shot from somebody’s minibar.

To increase the challenge, they moved the tee back 40 yards, making the carry over the shed about 240 yards. The window width for a safe drive is about 15 yards.

Before the tees moved back, the second shot on No. 17 was seven- and eight-irons. Now, it is three- and four-irons.

As Woods said Tuesday, “It is a hole where you have to hit your drive on the fairway and then your work begins.”

That work is hitting a green from 220 while facing an ugly pot bunker on the left and a road to the right. Thus, the name Road Hole. In 1984, Tom Watson lost the tournament to Seve Ballesteros when his two-iron strayed right, skipped across the road and stopped next to a brick wall that borders the course. With no room for a backswing, he tried to ricochet the ball off the wall and onto the green with his putter. Didn’t work. Bogey and a lost title.

Between the road and the wall is a five-foot strip of long grass and gorse. Tuesday, marshals were keeping everyone off, leaving grass and gorse high and mean, the ultimate rough rough.

Sunday, the leaders will walk off the 17th green and take five steps to the 18th tee. Now, instead of facing a tunnel of driving area, they have a 20-acre field. But then, it may not matter, because No. 17 on Sunday leaves them with regret, anger and minds of mush.

Second shots on No. 18 are short chips, or long lag putts. The green, made slick by ever-blowing wind, is like rolling a ball on a rural road in Vail. Putts from the upper right part of the green need not be putted, just picked up and taken home, because the ball will never stop.

Eventually, somebody will win. He will be interviewed and canonized. Outside, the real stars will remain silent. No interviews again, even though everybody knows they can be blowhards.

bill.dwyre@latimes.com