Notes from Wednesday at Carnoustie

O'Meara touchy about Ryder Cup pay

Having started the debate about whether players should be paid for taking part in the Ryder Cup, Mark O'Meara is getting a little touchy on the subject.

O'Meara and Tiger Woods both have come out in favor of payment while Tom Watson and Colin Montgomerie are firmly against.

When the subject was raised again on the eve of the Open on Wednesday, O'Meara, a veteran of four Ryder Cups, didn't appear happy.

"My views have changed a little bit from the standpoint that the majority of players don't want to speak about it because they're going to maybe get crucified in the press," he said.

"As long as the PGA of America and the European PGA Tour feel like the money is going back to further the game of golf or is going back to good charities, I have no problem not being paid.

NORMAN WARNING: Facing a course he described as a ``brute'', two-time British Open champion Greg Norman warns that a winning score of something like 20 over par wouldn't be a great ad for golf.

The par-71 Carnoustie course, in use for an Open for the first time in 24 years, had been made tougher by long, thick rough and very narrow fairways. The expected strong winds could put many scores in the 80s or even 90s and the winner could collect the trophy with a score of 300 or more.

"I just hope it doesn't backfire," Norman said.

"Pinehurst to me was the best U.S. Open I had ever played in, the way they set the golf course up. They did it to exactly how it was meant to be designed and look what happened -- an even par won it. It was a perfect job.

"We're over here at the Open, you get a lot more adverse weather conditions. But set the course up the way it is supposed to be. If the weather eases up they might get away with it," Norman said.

BONNIE SCOTLAND: Zane Scotland has been turning heads at Carnoustie by qualifying for the Open at age 16.

He doesn't appear especially nervous.

"I just want to go and play a bit of golf and have a bit of fun," he said on the eve of the championship.

"I don't think it's daunting at all. I just go out to play golf like I always do."

LATEST ODDS: Tiger Woods remains the 5-1 favorite to win the British Open with David Duval second at 10-1 and home favorite Colin Montgomerie third at 12-1.

But Sergio Garcia is coming on. Bookmakers Ladbrokes have moved 19-year-old Spanish sensation who won his first tournament 10 days ago in only his sixth event as a pro, up to 18-1 followed by Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Lee Westwood, at 20-1.

Zane Scotland, who turns 17 on Saturday, is rated among the 500-1 outsiders while three-time champion Nick Faldo is 100-1, the longest odds he's ever had.

GLASSON WITHDRAWS: Bill Glasson on Wednesday became the ninth American to withdraw from the Open field, citing an elbow injury.

The 39-year-old, who has had 13 operations since he joined the tour in 1984, didn't travel to Scotland and said he is taking a five-week break from the game.

He will be replaced in the 156-man field by England's Scott Watson, who won a five-man playoff to be first reserve.

Glasson joins Jack Nicklaus, John Daly, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples, Steve Jones, Brad Faxon and Scott Hoch as Americans to withdraw.

BAKER-FINCH RETURNS: Open champion in 1991, Ian Baker-Finch went out to play the Carnoustie course more in fun than anything. Even at age 38, the Australian no longer competes and is here doing television work with ABC.

Baker-Finch gave up the game 18 months ago because he was no longer competitive. At the Open at Troon two years ago he returned a 92 in the opening round.

Baker-Finch, who plans to enter the millennium Open at St. Andrews on a one-off basis, had to get special permission from Royal and Ancient Club secretary Michael Bonallack to play a round at Carnoustie because he hadn't entered the championship.

"Basically Sir Michael allowed me to play the course as I am working as an announcer for ABC," he said.

"I am doing a little bit of homework but it is a little bit of therapy as well."

AP