European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                By Bob Green. A Golf writer Southport England a unsettled conditions and the europeans familiar with them could break the american stranglehold on British open titles at Royal Birkdale. A in these conditions i think the europeans have a better Chance than the americans a Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain said monday after battling Gale Force winds. The winds accompanied by showers eventually became so Strong a gutting More than 40 Mph a that Olazabal abandoned his practice round. A i done to think there is any Point in practising in wind like this. You done to know if it is you or the wind that is moving the Ball a he said. A couple of americans attempting to qualify for the 150-Man final Field also failed to see the Point of continuing their efforts Andt Urther annoyed some already miffed tournament officials. John Huston walked in after eight holes of his second round of qualifying. Following an opening 77, Reith Clearwater failed to appear for his second qualifying round. George Wilson Deputy Secretary of the sponsoring Royal and ancient Golf club of St. Andrews said both incidents will be investigated. The action of the two players followed by one Day the unexplained absence of five other pea tour players from their scheduled qualifying rounds. Wilson said strongly worded letters demanding an explanation will be sent to Andy bean Ken Green Mark Mccumber Billy Ray Brown and Jim Hallet. Those letters however Are unlikely to be any stronger than the howling winds that raked the Early practice rounds. Save Ballesteros for example shot a 76 Over the Par-70 links and called it a not a bad score under the conditions. A if winds stay like this 10-Over-Par could win a he said. The Long Range forecast involves what the British weathermen Call a unsettled conditions a which often Means wind and rain. Those elements could serve As allies to the european stars who have won five of the last seven British open titles none of which have come at this course on England a West coast. This has been an american playground. The last four British opens played at Royal Birkdale have been won by Arnold Palmer 1961lee Trevino 1971johnny Miller 1976 and Tom Watson 1983. While Trevino Miller and Watson Are in the Field Payne Stewart generally is considered the american most Likely to succeed when play begins thursday. A a Quot Quot the current . Open Champion last year scored his second runner up finish golfers praising course that May Bury their Hopes in this event. He a listed As the shortest priced american entry by Britain Slegal bookies at 16-1. The top four spots Are held by defending Champion Nick Faldo of England 61masters Champ Ian Woosnam of Wales 8-1ballesteros 10-.1 and Olazabal 11-1. Both Spanish stars however admitted to putting slumps. A i have been struggling for a few weeks a Olazabal said. �?o1 did not putt Well last week a said Ballesteros who held the third round Lead in the scottish open before falling to an eighth place finish. A i need to sort out my  wind he said could prove to be an equalizer placing More emphasis on Ball striking and less on putting. A i would like wind a he said. A but not 40 Miles an hour maybe 20.�?� by Rebecca Bryan United press International Southport England the wind will kick up the Trees will be taller and Par will be lower. It makes no difference the links of Royal Birkdale have won everyone Over. A this course is absolutely fabulous a said australians Greg Norman Winner of the British open at Turnberry in 1986. A a it Sas Fine a Golf course As i have played in Many years and one of the Best of the Seaside courses we play. Reducing the Par at two of the Par-5s makes it that much More difficult a Norman said. The 120th British open begins today making a return to Royal Birkdale on England a Northwest coast for the first time since Tom Watson won the championship in 1983. Severiano Ballesteros rocketed to International stardom when he finished runner up in his first British open at Birkdale in 1976. A the course is in great condition a he said. A it could not be better. It is Nice to see the Royal and ancient Golf club going Back to the old Days in the Way the course is set up. A the reason i say that is because for a few years they tried to imitate the . Open a Little bit in one Way in the rough. A it is Nice to see the course As fair As it can possibly  Payne Stewart seeking to become Only the sixth golfer to win the u. S. And British open titles in one year said there were some similarities Between Birkdale and this years . Open course at Hazeltine. A while Here and Hazeltine Are different they Are both similar in the fact that everything is right in front of you not like St. Andrews where you done to see a lot of the trouble. A there is a lot of definition to the holes at both but the greens Are smaller Here. They wont be As fast As is always the Case with the .  Stewart says he would rate a British open Crown More highly than his . Open title. _ a i have always had the game to win an open championship a he said. A it takes a lot of imagination and being Able to work the Ball both ways. You have to putt very Well play a lot of Golf shots a lot that we done to have to play in the United states. A i think i have had a reasonable amount of Success in this championship. I have had the Chance to win and i think it is because of my imagination and my  defending Champion Nick Faldo feeling Loose and easy also was full of Praise for the course. A the Golf course is great a he said. A a it a going to play Tough this week. There a a Little bit less rough than when we were Here in �?T83, but the Trees and Bushes have grown up and that makes it a Little bit longer for us. A my preparations Are going Fine. In a just getting a feel for the course. In a Nice and relaxed about it. There was so much fuss about defending the . Masters title at Augusta i almost forgot i was defending Here this week As Well. A a that a my goal this week to defend and win another won but in a not twitched up about anything. A a nothing a bugging me at All this  the Royal Birkdale Golf course 4 his v.  r a. % the Royal Birkdale Yards 480 i 423 i 410 i 80s 343 i 478 Iso i 470 i 41011 3.339 i my Par i 4 i 4 i 4 3 i 4 i 4 i 3 1 4 to i 34 1 w 0 h  i 14 15 1b 1 1 d i in i total Hole Yards i 4�4 i 411 i 184 1 475 i 198 1 542 415 Par 525 473 source press association a Heather Kairnan getting a grip on the 91 open by United press International tournament a $1.48 million British open at Royal Birkdale Golf club Southport England today sunday. Top Money a Winner $148,500, second $115,500, third $99,000. Last year s Champion Nick Faldo 18-under-Par 270 won by five strokes Over Payne Stewart and Mark Mcnulty at St. Andrews Scotland. Faldo is defending. Previous winners in Field Nick Faldo 1990,1987mark Calcavecchia 1989seve Ballesteros 1988,1984,1979tom Watson 1983, 1982, 1980, 1977, 1975lee Trevino 1972, 1971greg Norman 1986sandy Lyle 1985tom Weiskopf 1973johnny Miller 1976jack Nicklaus 1978, 1970, 1966gary player 1974,1968,1959. Leading contenders Faldo seeking fourth major title in last three seasons Stewart the . Open Champion and runner up last year Ian Woosnam masters Champion three time Champion Ballesteros Spain a Jose Maria Olazabal masters runner up. Missing stars a Paul Azinger who withdrew after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Mark Mccumber out with a Back injury. The course a since the open was last played at Royal Birkdale in 1983, Par has been reduced to 70 by dropping holes no. 6 and 13 to Par-4s. Located on the Northwest coast of England Royal Birkdale is a links course that players Are calling a a straightforward and a fair a though it plays Long and will be Tough if the Gusty winds continue. Past highlights Tom Watson won the last open played at Birkdale in 1983, describing his 2-Iron at the 72nd Hole that year As a the finest drive and 2-Iron i will Ever  Arnold Palmer came to the 1954 open for the first time and experienced Royal Birkdale at its most difficult in foul weather. He responded on the second Day with five birdies in the first six holes then stumbled at no. 17 to finish a stroke behind. Over the last 36 holes he had a magnificent struggle with Dai Rees who finished with two birdies and an Eagle but still saw Palmer win by a shot after a 6-Iron from the rough at no. 15