If the Frenchman is within sight of victory at St Andrews, he says: "I will hit a putter on the 18th this time."

Van de Velde should have won his first major 12 months ago but took a triple bogey seven on the last hole at Carnoustie to blow his chances of glory.

He eventually lost out in a play-off to Paul Lawrie following his almost comical encounter with the Barrie Burn.

But Van de Velde, who has earned a great deal of respect with the way he handled his dramatic fall from grace, is undaunted.

Upbeat

And he is determined to remain in upbeat mood whatever happens this week.

"You either smile or get depressed, so I'd rather smile because it's something that happens in life," he said.

Van de Velde insists he has put last year's events behind him.

"I don't dream about it, I have got better things to dream about," he said. "Golf is only a game, if you can't handle it get a handkerchief and cry someplace else."

He is also adamant that he has few regrets about the way he played the final hole at Carnoustie, which featured him rolling up his trouser legs and heading into the water in a desperate attempt to chip his ball out.