No invitation required for Faldo in 2003

Nick Faldo is looking forward to the Open at Muirfield every bit as much as Tiger Woods.

Faldo's fifth place finish in the United States Open was his best display in a major for six years and now he returns to the course on which he won two of his three Open titles.

"This has given me a real boost," said Faldo, who will celebrate his 45th birthday the day the Open starts on July 18.

"I'll work hard for the next month and when I get there you never know.

"Obviously I love the place and if I can play the wind shots the way I want to I might have a helluva week.

"It's kind of nice at my age. I didn't think this was the course for me when I got here, but then I thought that everybody else screaming at it could help me.

"I had a good mental mindset and I felt I had nothing to lose. All in all it was a great week."

Faldo received a special invitation for what was his 60th successive major - right back to his first Muirfield victory in 1987 - but he will not need one next year. The top 15 are all exempt.