European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 20 the stars and stripes thursday july 14,1988 117th British open Jacklin scorns underdog yanks Lytham England a Tony Jacklin who was once the Only British contender in a dominant Ameri can golfing contingent says an american has Little Chance of winning the British open. We re better than they Are now the Captain of Briliant s victorious Ryder cup team said tuesday in matter of fact Way referring to the americans competing in the oldest of All the world s Golf tournaments the 117th renewal of which begins thursday. By we 1 mean the europeans he said. Looking at the favourites this week i can t see beyond a euro Pean win. I can t see an american winning but i m biased. For Jacklin the open is an us is. Them situation. For americans it s simply 153 golfers playing each other. We Don t think of each other As americans or europeans or australians. We re pro golfers coming fro the same background said Curtis strange Winner of last month s . Open. Jacklin however was outspoken about what he con siders the emergence of europeans As the dominant Force in Golf. It s just As i said in an interview before the Ryder cup matches. They asked me who would win and i said we would because we re better now. It s that simple in t it said Jacklin who won this title in 1969 on the Royal Lytham and St. Anne Golf club course that will serve As the site of tournament that begins thursday. Jacklin listed three British players defending Champion Nick Faldo of England masters title Holder Sandy Lyle of Scotland and Ian Woosnam of Wales As the most Likely to succeed. He also likes seve Balles Teros of Spain who won on this course in 1979 along with Bernhard Langer of West Germany. Seve won Here before and coming Back May rekindle some memories for him give him some renewed Confidence and enthusiasm. And Bernhard is just so determined has so much desire Jacklin said rekindling an us is. Them aspect of a tournament that in almost All places outside the United states is recognized As the world championship. Most leading american players have attempted at least publicly to play Down what is seen As an american is. European confrontation. You Don t tend to think of it in those terms said facts and figures Lytham. England a facts and figures or the British open Golf championship at stake 117th British open Goll championship. Dates july 14-17. Site Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf club Lytham England. Yardage 6,857 Par 35-3671. Field 153 146 pros 7 amateurs. Americans in Field 47 46 pros 1 Amateur format 72 holes 18 holes daily stroke play. Cut after 36 holes Field will be Cut to Low 70 scorers and All tied for 70th place and All within 10 strokes of the Leader. Playoff if necessary 4 holes stroke play immediately after conclusion of regulation play. Purse $1,190,000. Winner s $136,000. Defending Nick Faldo. Share Champion last previous Winner at this site seve Ballesteros. Former champions in Field Jack Nicklaus Johnny Miller Gary player Tom Watson Bob Charles Lee Trevino Nick Faldo Sandy Lyle seve Ballesteros Tony Jacklin. Spain s seve Ballesteros a a Scotland s Sandy Lyle co favourites to underscore America s Golf decline strange whose . Open Victory was the third of the season and his first major Victory in his Long and successful As Well As lucrative career. Jacklin acknowledged strange s ability. He s one of the top three in the world right now but the conditions Here this week will favor a euro Pean win Jacklin said. The european players Are getting into it too. Asked if an american could win this week Balleste Ros replied Bobby Jones  then he produced an elaborate shrug and added a Long time  the historical reference was not without  won this title on this course in 1926. But he was the last american to do so at this links course on the West coast of England. In the six British opens played Here since then the winners have been an australian Peter Thomson 1958a new Sealander Bob Charles 1963an englishman Jacklin 1969a South african Gary player 1974 and a spaniard Ballesteros 1979. I Don t understand it. There does t seem to be an particular reason for it. It just happens said Tom Watson who scored his fifth British open Victory and the last by an american in 1983. Some leading american contenders in the 153-Manfield include Paul Azinger Ben Crenshaw Payne Stew Art Chip Beck Lanny Wadkins and pea Champion Larry Nelson. Watson plays a Long shot himself by Larry Siddons Lytham England a Tom Watson is literally taking a Page out of his own Book to try to turn Back the years to when he was automatically favorite to win the British open instead ofa25-to-l shot. Watson got in a practice round Over the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf club on monday and said his Best Hopes of claiming a record tying sixth championship in the open s 117th edition rested in his putting. You have to make the putts to win said the 38-year-old Watson who last won the open in 1983 at Royal Bir Daleand finished 14 strokes behind Winner seve Ballesteros when the tournament was last played Here in 1979. In recent years Watson has had Trou ble All Over the professional tour not just on British courses. He collapsed Over the final nine Holesa year ago and finished four strokes be Hind Winner Nick Faldo at the open Las year. His Victory last year at the Nabisco championships of Golf was his first tournament Triumph in three years. Dur ing the slump Watson said his tee to Green game has remained Strong but his putting touch once one of the surest in the game has deserted him. I was t accelerating through Heball he said. It was a typical Hacker s stroke a typical bad golfer s stroke. If i had read my own Book it would say the backswing should be Shorter than the follow through but my backswing was longer than my follow 25-to-l shot Tom Watson. Reading his own Book through. I Hope that s changed  Watson said he had discussed the problem with another Veteran Lee tre Vino and that the 1980 open runner up agreed the trouble was in technique. Watson said he had feared the problem was some sort of vision impairment. When the putt was lined up correctly it looked to me As if it were shaded to the right he  departure was accepted form the eyesight and the Long time it has taken Roget to the Bottom of the problem All have a common cause according to Watson.  think that s it he said. When you re 38, your hair gets thinner but you brain gets thicker. I Hope this stands the test. My Confidence is sorely  just Hope this starts a surge of Confidence in my  s Legal bookmakers Are quoting Ballesteros and . Masters champions Andy Lyle of Scotland As co favourites at 8-1. Faldo is second at 10-1, followed by Bernhard Langer of West Germany and . Open Champ Curtis strange at 14-1. Watson is rated Only a 25-1 shot an said he was not sure if those were realistic  me wednesday after a couple More practice rounds he said. But at least two people will be putting Money on the american Watson him self and the hotel Porter who carried his bags sunday night. The Guy asked about the state of my game and said he d like to put a few Bob on me Watson said. I said you know that i m 25-to-l. He said that s Why i want to put a few Bob on you " Watson said he would be betting on himself to win and tie Harry Vardon forthe most open championships. But i won t Tell you How much he said. The tax Man might not  imposter tees off officialdom Las Cruces . A Aman who falsely identified himself As to Britt a new Mexico state University Golf pro played three holes during a British open prac Tice round before he was remove from the course authorities said. Paul Brilliant Umsu s director of Golf was told by the profession Al golfers association that theman had a pea card allowing him in the practice round monday at the Royal Lytham St. Annes course at Lytham England. Brilliant said he received a Tele phone Call monday morning from Joe o Brien a pea official asking if he knew the Man. Brilliant was told the bogus pro played the first two holes in More than 10 shots and had just hit his11th shot on the third Hole when officials asked him to leave. The pea is concerned because he has a valid card Brilliant said. Most courses would let a pea cardholder play for  Brilliant who has been at nmsu19 years said he had no idea How the Man obtained his card