Pint-per-stroke: could you handle the most devilish challenge in golf? 
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Just to the right of the 17th hole at St. Andrews sits one of the most famous 19th holes in golf: the Jigger Inn, a tiny white-walled bar/restaurant that’s witnessed, and played host to, many of the greatest golfers in history. It’s also home to what has to be one of the toughest drinking games in a sport renowned for them.
The game is very simple: once you’re done playing 17 holes, you walk off the green and into the bar. Once there, you order a pint. And another, and another, as many as you wish … because your goal is to finish your round at the 18th at St. Andrews by shooting fewer strokes than pints you’ve just consumed.
Has anyone ever pulled off the challenge? Probably, but they’d have to be either one hell of a golfer or one hell of a drinker. Even making par on the 18th would require you to down five pints of beer after playing 17 holes of golf. (John Daly, your next British Open challenge awaits.)
Alas, you can’t attempt either half of the challenge this week. For one thing, the pros are actually playing the course. For another, the Jigger Inn has been rented out all week long by a private party, and you’re not invited.
You can see the Jigger in below in this shot of the Old Course Hotel. The inn is the small white building on the left; on the right is the wall that players drive over off the 17th tee.
“I know many people who attempted it,” said Oliver Horovitz, a longtime caddie at St. Andrews and author of An American Caddie in St. Andrews. “A few came close.” He’s caddied for several who have tried, including one who had a putt for 4 that lipped out … after the player had downed 5 pints.
It’s a safe bet that no one will be attempting the Jigger Inn Challenge this week, although plenty of players are likely to want to drown their sorrows after their first two rounds.
____________________
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter.
And keep up with Jay over on Facebook, too.
