Stricker from the non-golfing state of Wisconsin has won nearly $1m pounds

Stricker, from the non-golfing state of Wisconsin, has won nearly $1m (pounds 645,000) on the US Tour this season, recording wins in the Kemper Open and, two weeks ago, the acclaimed Western Open near Chicago. Faldo and Greg Norman missed the half-way cut there.Ricky Willison, who is first off this morning, is in great form. In the year of the general strike, Jones’s aggregate was 291, and he wore a tweed suit to boot. Had he worn it this week he would have suffered from heat exhaustion.Meanwhile, watch your bets. Statto, of Fantasy Football League fame, wanted to back Paul Eales, who is attached to Lytham, at 125-1 and was told the odds were 16-1 The bookmaker thought he was talking about Els Two outsiders in particular catch the eye. “I don’t know how I’m going to play,” Daly said, “but the good thing about this course is that if you miss it long, it’s an advantage.

Every hole has an out, apart from the par threes.” No American professional has won the Open at Lytham, although the great amateur Bobby Jones took possession of the old silver claret jug in 1926. If I hit my driver I’ve still got to avoid some bunkers, whereas at St Andrews I didn’t have to worry about any bunkers. I felt I could fly right over them.”He, too, has been to the movies and has watched his triumph at the home of golf at least 10 times. I believe that.” When he walked on to the second hole, he saw a sign, in Spanish, reading: “Seve Please Win Again”. It was the same sign that he saw here in 1988.John Daly, the defending champion, sounded as if he would prefer to be back at St Andrews, the scene of his play-off victory over Costantino Rocca 12 months ago. Incidentally, Rocca, who is bigger in America than he is in Roma, has been invited by the International Olympic Committee to carry the Italian flag at the closing ceremony in Atlanta.”The fairways are so narrow here I think you can count me out of hitting any,” Daly said “There’s more trouble and a lot more bunkers. I know it’s difficult, I know it’s eight years later and my game at the moment is not as good as before but it’s possible.

It took me eight years to get rid of that.”Before arriving here, Ballesteros watched videos of his Lancashire hot shots (all he needed was a soundtrack from Gracie Fields) in an attempt to rediscover the missing link. “I try to pick up any details that I’m not doing now to see if I can inspire myself I’m proud to see what I did although I’m sad that I can’t be youthful for ever. When I watch the films it gives me confidence to try and win again. The greens are small and everyone is going to miss a lot of greens Chipping and putting is going to be important. In 1979 I was famous as the man who won the Open from the car park.

Because of the size of the gallery following him, the Lancashire Constabulary have assigned Faldo his own police protection, a WPC.Seve Ballesteros also has a penchant for Lytham, of course, winning the Open here in 1979 (aggregate 283) and again in 1988 (273) Eight years ago he finished with a 65 to deny Nick Price “I’m very grateful to this place Great memories,” Ballesteros said “I think I won here because of my short game. You can make a good score on the first 12 holes and, depending on the weather, hang on to it. I’m relaxed and I’ve got a feel of the links.” The weather is halcyon and Royal Lytham is going to need more than its 185 bunkers (82 of them over the last six demanding par fours) to keep the field at bay.While most of the players have been practising with friends, wagering side bets in the process, Faldo has been flying solo. He thinks that the winner on Sunday could be 14 under par or better He won the English Amateur Championship here in 1975 “That was the first big one,” he said. Disaster averted.”I’m hitting the ball well and everything is coming together,” Faldo said “I enjoy Lytham It’s an accuracy links, so many pot bunkers.