BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | The Open

BBC Sport Online's Kitrina Douglas experiences the silence of Royal Lytham after the exit of the masses.

It is amazing how the Royal Lytham and St Annes golf course can change so drastically within the space of a week.

From being the hub for thousands of spectators, players, officials and media types, it transformed to an eerie, deserted countryside under the beautiful Sunday evening sunset.

No sooner had the excitement of the week's play ended, and the stands selling travel and accommodation packages for the 2002 Open been dismantled, the course was almost totally empty with grandstands looking like skeletons.

Weeks of preparation were all over within a few short hours.

Ian Woosnam's caddie Miles Byrne
Miles Byrne: Plenty to think about
I took a quiet walk around the course in the sunset and took one final look at the pin positions that were chosen for the final day's play.

Many people felt that the pin positions were tough on Sunday and I think they were one of the telling factors why few players scored in the 60s for the final round.

Some of the pins looked more off the green than on it!

On tour, the pros call these "sucker pins". These pin positions lure the player into shooting for them, but you only have to be slightly inaccurate to end up with an impossible lie in a nearby bunker.

Ian Woosnam took on the challenging pin positions and gave them a good run.

But, in the end, even Woosie was caught out. So too Miguel Angel Jimenez and Tiger Woods.

I suppose the morning after is the prime time for "if onlys".

Ian Woosnam is obviously the number one candidate for the biggest "if only" of the 2001 Open.

If only the first hole had not been a par three, he would have pulled out his driver and realised from the start that he had too many clubs and avoided the two-point penalty.

Jean Van de Velde in the Barry Burn at Carnoustie
What are you doing, Jean?
His caddie must be thinking, "if only everyone didn't blame caddies".

The same might still be true for Jean Van de Velde's caddie who was on the sharp end when the Frenchman's incorrect information led to Paul Lawrie winning three years ago at Carnoustie.

From my point of view, I was thinking this morning, "if only golf courses weren't so long!"

During the week, I walked about 70 miles around the Lytham links and watched over 1400 shots. And that doesn't include the practice ground.

I suppose I can now enjoy a lazy week with the consolation that all that walking has done no end of good for my cardiovascular health!