Golfing traditionalists would consider the suggestion to be downright heresy but more and more people are wondering whether the Old Course at St Andrews has outlived its usefulness as an Open Championship venue.

Seve Ballesteros, who is still recovering from a brain tumour, is among the golfing stars who have been invited to compete in the Champions Challenge on the eve of next July’s Open at St Andrews.

As the only man to have held all four majors at the same time, Tiger Woods does not need anybody to tell him how best to go about trying to win a Grand Slam.