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The new Old Tom Morris statue in St Andrews has been damaged by vandals for a second time.

After being unveiled in October, the statue of golf’s first legendary figure was targeted by thugs, who snapped the clubhead from the tribute.

Fortunately within a couple of weeks, Roger McStravick – a St Andrews-based golf historian behind the project – shared that the statue had been restored.

Sadly, however, McStravick has issued another plea for help on social media after even more concerning damage.

“I don’t know what to say,” he wrote on X. “The Tom Morris statue has been damaged again.

“The club was snapped off and they didn’t leave the club this time. If anybody saw anything, please DM.

“Seems that there was some partying going on. Broken glass near statue etc.”

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The statue, which sits on a bronze plinth on the Bow Butts – overlooking the iconic Old Course and the R&A Clubhouse – was estimated to cost just over £100,000 to erect.

A GoFund me page was subsequently set up to offer financial support.

Several social media users condemned the incident and called on the clubhead – and statue – to be restored.

“I truly don’t understand what is wrong with people. I hope you catch the perpetrators and bring them to justice!” one wrote.

Another said: “Again?! What is wrong with people nowadays??? So sad and disappointing that his statue has been damaged again.”

Previously, Billy Horschel and Iona Stephen led the pleas to have the statue, designed by David Annand and uncovered by Morris’ great, great granddaughter Mrs Sheila Walker, fixed.

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“Very sad! Hopefully they are caught and fully punished by the law,” Horschel wrote.

Meanwhile, Stephen said: “That’s terrible! I hope they are caught!”

After the unveiling last year, McStravick told bunkered.co.uk that it was a “magical” day.

“They wanted to do this in 1909,” he said, “and we’ve finally done it.

“The statue means everything to St Andrews, he is still the oldest winner of The Open, still holds the largest margin of victory in The Open.

“He was a living legend, and this isn’t rose-tinted glasses, he genuinely was. I still believe he is Scotland’s greatest golfing icon.”


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John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.

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