|
A shock at 2005 Open unlikely
After three rounds of last year's British Open it seemed order had been restored to the leaderboard following the astonishing victory of world number 396 Ben Curtis in 2003.
World number one Tiger Woods, three-time major winner Ernie Els and U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson were all within touching distance of leader Todd Hamilton, and the golfing world prepared for a heavyweight showdown over the closing 18 holes at Troon.
It was no surprise that a playoff was needed to decide the title but only Els was able to match Hamilton's score and four pars in a row were good enough for the unheralded American to lift the claret jug.
On the eve of the 2005 Open, however, the chances of a third successive surprise victory look slim.
World number one Woods is the overwhelming favourite at St Andrews to repeat his victory at the home of golf five years ago with Els and Mickelson among his most likely challengers, according to the bookmakers.
Recent history does not suggest another shock either.
Woods, John Daly, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros and Jack Nicklaus, twice, won the last six Opens at St Andrews, with Woods and Faldo fully justifying their status as world number ones by posting record scores.
Tournament organisers the Royal & Ancient are expecting a high profile champion.
"In 2000 and 1990 on both occasions the top player in the world came through to win the championship with a record total," R & A chief executive Peter Dawson told a news conference on Wednesday.
"We are very satisfied that this is a sufficient test for the world's top golfers and the top player will come through on Sunday."
Daly's triumph in 1995 was a bit surprising but the flamboyant American had won the U.S. PGA Championship four years before overhauling Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Italian Costantino Rocca on a windy final day on the Old Course.
Campbell won his first major at last month's U.S. Open and thinks there is a good chance of another unexpected champion.
"It's great to see other guys winning tournaments and it's great for the game," Campbell told reporters. "Tiger has really raised the bar since he came on the scene eight or nine years ago and made all of us work much harder.
"Standards have improved a lot and there are a lot of good players out there."
The British Open is not the only major to produce surprise recent champions.
Americans Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel came from nowhere to win the 2002 and 2003 U.S. PGA championships, and Woods believes that reflects the strength of the world game.
"It's just quality guys and it goes to show you how deep the fields are out here," he told reporters. "People don't realise how good these guys really are. Anyone who enters the field not only has the opportunity to win, but can win."
Email
this page to a friend | Return
to top of page | 
