JOSE Maria Olazabal faces a choice today that few others have ever made – whether to fly Ryanair for under £50 or hire a private jet for about £6,000.
The private jet is the likelier of the two because the double Masters champion thinks the Paris traffic may prevent him getting to Beauvais airport in time. Olazabal is heading for Scotland the moment the French Open Alstom ends in order to be at Kil
marnock Barassie at lunchtime tomorrow for the 36-hole Open final qualifying competition.
A total of 288 players do battle over three courses for just 12 places at Turnberry, the course on which he played his first Open as a professional in 1986.
Third behind Tiger Woods and Colin Montgomerie at St Andrews four years ago, Olazabal has failed to make the past two Opens while suffering rheumatic pains. "I'm still taking anti-inflammatories and some days it flares up, but the pain is decreasing and if I look back three or four months I can see the improvement I've made," said the Spaniard.
Olazabal has found someone to share the cost of the private jet with him – 1999 Open runner-up Jean Van de Velde tees off at Glasgow Gailes just before 9am tomorrow and is also looking for the quickest route there. The Frenchman had been in contention for his national title after an opening 67, but a 75 and then 71 put him out of it.
Colin Montgomerie matched his best round of the year with a 65 that leaves him in with a shout going into the today's final round on five under, one behind England's Ian Poulter.
Last year's European No.1 Robert Karlsson could miss the Open because of a long-term eye complaint. He has a blister behind the retina and has not played since May.
The Swede has withdrawn from this week's Scottish Open and is in a race to get fit for Turnberry in 12 days' time.
World No 1 Tiger Woods enjoyed a three-shot lead over holder Anthony Kim and three other players midway through the third round of the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club yesterday.
Tied with Kim at eight-under par were fellow Americans Michael Allen and Jim Furyk plus Australian Rod Pampling.
Woods had surrendered a one-stroke lead to Pampling after registering bogeys on two of the first six holes yesterday.
But he birdied the eighth and sank a 35-foot putt for an eagle on nine to go 11-under.
