Stars flock to premiere for St Andrews golf movie

The stars of Tommy’s Honour – which tells the story of Old Tom Morris, who helped set up the Open championship and his son Tommy who sets out to challenge traditions and become the dashing young man of golf – were not put off by the typically Scottish weather with artistic director Mark Adams hailing it the festival’s highlight.

Golf fan director Jason Connery, told the Citizen: “I couldn’t believe this story hadn’t been told before. It tells the story of the beginning of modern golfing and it was great to shoot in Fife and East Lothian with a predominantly Scottish cast. Opening the whole Edinburgh Film Festival with Tommy’s Honour is just brilliant.”

Old Tommy was portrayed by Peter Mullan, who admitted that although the movie is tragic, it was not all doom and gloom on set. He told the Citizen: “We always had a laugh. It is important never to take acting too seriously.”

Although the actor received some golfing tuition he admits to having never played it before and now he has “forgotten it all”.

Rising star Jack Lowden who plays the young Tom Morris loved filming in the town and found the experience ‘unique – there’s no place like it, the history juxtaposed with the young student buzz.”

Tommy’s Honour plays at the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh until Sunday, June 26.

Find out more about filming, and what some of the cast are up to next in the St Andrews Citizen, out Friday.