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| |  Thursday, 12 July, 2001, 20:50 GMT 21:50 UK Golf's golden smile  Royal Lytham has more than its fair share of sand By BBC Sport Online's Stuart Roach When it comes to The Open, golfers do like to be beside the seaside. There is something about links golf that makes the hairs on the back of a professional golfer's neck stand on end. And it is not just the winds which blow in from Britain's rugged coastlines. Since Willie Park first claimed the title of Open champion at Prestwick in 1860, the championship has been golf's most cherished prize. The most recent winner, Tiger Woods, provided the perfect crowning glory, winning by eight shots at the home of golf - St Andrews. Woods became the youngest player to win all four Majors as he carried off the 129th Open Championship in fine style - and the sense of history provided by last year's win will take some topping. One hundred and forty years earlier, Park became the first player to win the original prize of a decorated leather belt - much like those won by boxing's champions.
The belt was replaced in 1873 by a silver claret jug and, for nearly 50 years, the elegant trophy became the most sought-after mantelpiece decoration in the world. These days, it is a �40 replica that the players fight for. Yet the claret jug, and the honour of becoming Open champion, are truly priceless. The history and pride that course through the veins of this tournament generate a passion among golfers which is unrivalled in golf. The winner of this year's championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes will pocket a cheque for �600,000. But it's not about the money. Just ask Justin Rose. In 1998, he chipped for an eagle at the final hole to finish third at Birkdale.
The Birkdale crowd went berserk but his bank manager did not. As an amateur, Rose did not win a penny for his achievements, meaning he returned home to Hampshire with �10 less than Park earned for winning in 1863. The year after Park became the first-ever player to take prize money from the championship, the tournament was declared "open to the whole world". Only 12 enetered. This year, 2,236 entered the qualifying stages alone. From that original entry, the second highest in Open history, as few 26 will qualify for the opening round at Lytham. Famous seaside town The scramble for qualifying places is almost as fierce as the final competition, such is the hunger for places among golf's elite. Eight of Britain's finest links courses currently rotate the honour of hosting The Open, their rolling fairways and undulating greens the size of car parks providing golf's ultimate test in golf's ultimate event. This year's honours fall to Lytham, one of Britain's most famous seaside courses in one of Britain's most famous seaside towns. Famed for its bunkers, Lytham has almost as much sand on the course as the host town boasts on its Golden Mile. Come next Sunday, one golfer will be celebrating his place in the sport's history books with a golden smile. Stuart will be 'Our Man at Lytham' for the duration of this year's Open Championship. | |
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