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 | | You are in: In Depth: The Open |
| |  Tuesday, 11 July, 2000, 15:45 GMT Hansen: Tiger made for St Andrews  Woods in Open action at Carnoustie last year
Looking for a different angle ahead of The Open, BBC Sport Online enlisted the help of Match of the Day's Alan Hansen, himself a keen golfer since the age of seven and currently playing off a handicap of three. I've played at St Andrews but never on the Old Course, although I've walked round it many a time, and it remains a lifelong ambition to actually play a round on there. I was at The Open at St Andrews in 1970 as a 15-year-old when defending champion Tony Jacklin went out on the opening nine in 29 before play was unfortunately abandoned due to the weather. And I've always followed The Open, watching it on the BBC every year since I was a kid but this year I will be going back to the Old Course on both the Saturday and Sunday. In all honesty when it comes to the final few holes I'll probably be watching on a television inside a tent because hopefully it will be a tight finish with plenty of players still involved.
Personallly I can only see one contender though. If you're going to win then you've got to beat Tiger Woods. You would say that if there is any course made for him then it is St Andrews with its wide open spaces. British contingent Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Colin Montgomerie will lead the British contingent but I can't see someone coming from outside the top 20 in the world to win it. As a Scotsman it was fantastic to see Paul Lawrie win at Carnoustie last year, just down the road from his home course. He won it fair and square but people forget his shots at the 17th and 18th after the events surrounding Jean van de Velde. It would be great to see Montgomerie break his Major duck. He hasn't got the best record in The Open but everyone in Scotland will be rooting for him and the difference between him struggling and playing really well is very slight. All-time low Lee Westwood is obviously flying at the moment, but it was only eight weeks ago that he was at his all-time low. I remember once when I was making a documentary at the US Masters and play was stopped due to a rainstorm and lightning. Lee came into the clubhouse and despite being in mid-round all he could talk about was his beloved Nottingham Forest. That should tell you something about the character of the man. The British Open is the truly international event of the Majors. The venues are great and St Andrews in particular is brilliant. Hopefully this first Open of the Millennium will prove to be one to remember. | | 
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