ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The last time Tiger Woods played at St. Andrews, he went back 100 years in time by hitting a replica of the gutta percha golf ball during a practice round. Despite a mighty drive on the 352-yard ninth hole, he still had a 5-iron left to reach the green.

And to think that might still be the standard ball if the Old Course never changed.

Even with Jack Nicklaus playing the first practice round of his final major championship, and Woods teeing off so early yesterday that he was done before some people got out of bed, the buzz at the British Open was the new look of the Old Course, at least on five holes that added a combined 164 yards.

"They leap out at you," Jim Furyk said.

For those alarmed by adding yardage to such a historic track, perhaps they should wander across the street to the British Golf Museum. One exhibit contains the rubber-core Haskell golf ball, which phased out the gutta percha — which came from a tree substance — and was all the rage at the turn of the 20th century.

The Royal & Ancient was so worried about how far players were hitting the Haskell that it lengthened the Old Course and added pot bunkers to protect against low scores. It must have worked, for there were only a dozen scores below 80 and James Braid won that 1905 British Open at 318, the highest winning score in 10 years.

One hundred years later, people are still talking about tradition and technology.

"It's just evolution," Stuart Appleby said. "It wasn't long ago everyone was playing in tweed jackets and ties."

Traditionalists made a passionate case for the gutta percha to be the standard ball for championship golf. Alas, the R&A declined to outlaw the Haskell because it seemed to make the game easier and more enjoyable for the majority of players. Ultimately, it helped make golf more popular.

Now, the R&A is simply keeping up with the times.

"The changes are good. You've got your thinking caps on 12, 13 and 14 now," said Nick Faldo, who won the 1990 British Open at St. Andrews. "I don't think it sets up for Tiger, but I think Tiger is the favorite. He's played, he's won, and he comes here with a mission."

The changes start with the second tee, which has been moved back 40 yards and to the right, so that players now face a blind tee shot over gorse bushes.

What really got everyone's attention was the 480-yard fourth, which is only 16 yards longer than in 2000 but now requires a carry of some 290 yards to reach the fairway.

Clearly, this isn't the same place where Woods broke a major championship record at 19-under par when he won by eight shots in 2000.

Wie struggles in men's Public Links

LEBANON, Ohio — Michelle Wie faded down the stretch again and shot a 6-over 76 on the first day of stroke play at the men's Amateur Public Links.

Playing in front of a huge gallery, the 15-year-old tied for 84th in the 156-player field. The low 64 scorers over 36 holes of medal play — the second 18 is today — move on to match play tomorrow. Atlanta's Chan Song and Garrett Jones of Rewey, Wis., shared the first-round lead after opening at 6-under 66.

Wie, who won the 2003 Women's Amateur Public Links, is playing in the men's APL because the winner traditionally gets an invitation to the Masters. She just missed the cut at the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic last week, finding trouble on the final few holes.

Note

• Bernhard Langer got a last-minute spot in his 27th British Open. The German received a spot in the field when Japan's Shingo Katayama withdrew with an injury. Fredrik Jacobson of Sweden and Brian Davis of England also were added after American Jay Haas and David Howell of England dropped out, citing injuries.

• Angela Park, 16, shot a 5-under 66 for the top score in the first day of stroke play at the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in Kansas City, Mo.