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Big crowds anticipated
in Sandwich
The prospect of a last-day
battle between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els at this week's British Open has triggered
the second highest advance ticket sales in the tournament's history.
A little over 100,000 tickets
have been sold for this year's championship, slightly less than the record figure
achieved at the 2000 British Open at St Andrews.
"Traditionally, Sandwich
is not one of our stronger venues for crowd sizes," Royal and Ancient Golf
Club (R&A) secretary Peter Dawson told a news conference on Wednesday.
"But, if the pre-event
ticket sales are anything to go by, this time that's going to change. We expect
large crowds this week."
Dawson added that the par-71
layout at Royal St George's was in superb shape and, with good weather forecast
for the week, he expects the 132nd British Open to provide a near-perfect test
of links course golf.
"The course set-up
has come along extremely well," he said. "We've been blessed with tremendous
weather in the build-up of three weeks plus, with warm sunshine and sea breezes.
"The course has dried
out and all the players feel they have a real links course set-up for this week.
"This (tournament)
will be all about positioning of the ball off the tee, so you can get at the flag
with your second shot.
"If you're in position,
the flags should be accessible. We're looking to reward good second shots, which
follow drives into the right places."
Of all the links courses
that stage the third of the year's four major championships, Royal St George's
offers the greatest number of blind shots from the tee into fairways that are
heavily contoured by humps and bumps.
"I think you'll hear
about the bounces this week," Dawson said. "Good golfers who play the
course regularly would say that as soon as you've hit the ball you know which
way it's going to bounce -- if you know the course well enough.
"Often a bad bounce
is encountered by hitting the wrong club. But, even if you know the course well
enough, there are going to be bounces that are unexpected.
"It will be a patient
man who comes through on Sunday evening."
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