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One of the most famous holes in golf will be lengthened next year when the Open Championship returns to St Andrews for the 150th anniversary of the tournament.

Modern club technology has eroded the mystique of the par-four 17th at the Scottish links course, nicknamed the Road Hole, which has remained at 455 yards for the past 100 years.

However, the Royal and Ancient have decided to act by adding an extra 35 yards for the 2010 championship.

"Over the years, we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily," said Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A.

"This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended."

The world's best players will now face much longer second shots into the green meaning they are more likely to flirt with the road and the cavernous bunker that has put paid to so many Open challenges over the years.

"The 17th was played at the same yardage in 1900 as it was in 2005 and this fuelled our belief that the formidable challenge of this iconic hole should be returned for The Open Championship," added Dawson.

Work on building the new 17th championship tee will commence in the coming weeks, the R&A said, adding that no other changes will be made for the tournament next July.

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Reuters