OPEN PREVIEW

An Open Championship demands drama and excitement up until the last putt drops. Eight years ago Carnoustie certainly delivered with one of the most memorable climaxes to an Open in living memory.

Who will ever forget Jean Van de Velde and his agonizing descent into golfing madness on the 18th when needing a six to win he took seven. But the Frenchman's mental meltdown proved to be Paul Lawrie's gain as the Scot crept up on the rails with a closing 67 to force a play off and eventual victory against Van de Velde and Justin Leonard.

I recently had the pleasure and privilege of playing Carnoustie twice in the amiable company of Carnoustie Head Professional Colin Sinclair. Colin arrived at Carnoustie in February 1999 via Blairgowrie and Walton Heath and has developed into one of the very best in his business. Clearly proud of the golf course and its magnificent condition Colin was able to give me an expert insight into how the pros will approach it.

If anything Lawrie's win in 1999 was over-shadowed by the furore concerning the rough guarding the Angus links, which had the media re-dubbing the course 'Carnasty', such was its ferocity.

“Personally I feel it was very difficult” said Colin. “We have a layout that does not require a lot of rough. If you combine the tough lay out, approximately 7,400 yards in length, with a bit of wind, which there tends to be, then the finest exponents of the game will be challenged”

“The finish to Carnoustie 15,16,17 and 18 will always ultimately decide the champion but the first third of the course is where the opportunity lies to post a score”

Could we have A British winner? Colin believes that one of the secrets to Carnoustie is to play it time and time again. “A number of players have been regular visitors to Carnoustie in the last 6 seasons for the Dunhill Links Championship and this a huge advantage”.

Of the 6 winners of that Championship 5 are Brits – Paul Lawrie, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher and Colin Montgomerie. If you also believe in the 'horses for courses' theory the Brits would appear to have an outstanding chance this time around.

Colin's money however is on Tiger Woods. The world number one will have the chance to be the first player to win it three times in a row since Peter Thomson in 1956. “Carnoustie is a 'plotter's course” so I expect to see Tiger's strategy at Hoylake mirrored here”

The course is sporting a couple of notable alterations. “The third hole has been altered from a straight par 4 to more of a dogleg to the right with two bunkers on the right side, one on the left and new rough mounding in the middle of the fairway, so accuracy more than length is required here. “The 17^th has received a slight alteration with the area on the right side of the fairway which was previously flat, now been contoured and rounded. Players who bale out into this area away from the Barry Burn will have a much tougher job now controlling their second shot to what I feel is the toughest hole on the course”  

Thanks Colin, I had a great couple of days in your company.