AllMovie

Hailed as the site of golf's inception, St. Andrews once again became host to the British Open Championship in 2000. The noteworthy homecoming was made possible by the lengthening of the 500-year-old course and the participation of an unprecedented group of players led by Tiger Woods, who was among a handful of golfers to win all four major championships. In commemoration of the millennial event, two documentaries showcase the club's long road to fame. The Open Century, narrated by Ian Cooldridge, describes a century of impressive performers from Gene Sarazen to Nick Faldo. Beginning with the earliest version of the game whose roots run deep at St. Andrews, the video traces the history of the Open through the remembrances of players, leaving the viewer with an austere and impressive understanding of both golf and the society that helped create it. The Magnificent Eight traces the history of the club's ascension. A journey through the town's archives revisits the legends that enfold the event, while also providing a historical background for the venue's importance. Told through the words of the players that helped build the club's reputation, the documentaries themselves seem historic; the beginning of a new century seems a fitting time to pay lush tribute to the place where it all began.