Muirfield promises a sporting spectacle

Published on Wednesday 17 July 2002 01:00

EAST LOTHIAN plays host to a world-class sporting event this week but don’t expect anyone to describe the venue as a "country fair" masquerading as something it isn’t.

In fact, Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone, who made his comments about Silverstone in the wake of the recent British Grand Prix, would surely describe an Open Championship at Muirfield as being in the fast lane.

The R&A, organisers of the event, simply don’t do "country fairs" and years of planning has been undertaken to ensure that the thousands of spectators who will flock to the East Lothian links this week - the total attendance is expected to be just under 200,000 - get to the course as easily as possible, enjoy their day and leave as quickly as possible at night.

Sure, the roads leading to Gullane will be considerably busier than normal but a traffic management scheme will be in place to keep things moving .

And, if you don’t want to take the car, then why not use the Golflink. Buy a ticket which combines rail travel to Drem, a bus link to Muirfield and admission to the course.

What can you expect once you get to Muirfield? Well, there may be four Major titles which are played for by the world’s top golfers each year but the Open Championship is widely regarded as the biggest of them all.

As a consequence, all of the world’s top players - a few Americans apart - will be lining up to do battle for the much-coveted Claret Jug, which will go the winner along with a whopping first prize of 700,000.

Favourite to land the spoils will be world No.1 Tiger Woods despite the fact he has never played at Muirfield before this week.

The American was still at school when the Open was last held over the course in 1992 - Nick Faldo lifting the title for a second time at the home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers - but he’s now the one handing out the lessons.

The fact Woods is coming to East Lothian for the first time would have been interesting enough but extra spice has been added to his visit by the events so far in this year’s Majors.

The Masters and US Open have both fallen to Woods, taking him halfway to achieving golf’s first ‘Grand Slam’ in the one year. More than ever the focus will be firmly on Woods and his every step, both on and off the course, will be shadowed by an army of people.

But a day at the Open is not just about watching Tiger Woods. Other big-name stars like David Duval, who is the defending champion, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and, of course, Colin Montgomerie will also be on parade, making the daily admission (35 during the four days of the championship) pretty good value in this day and age.

Gates open early in the morning and don’t close until late at night, giving spectators ample time to not only watch the golf but also sample the other facilities on offer .

As always, the Exhibition Tent is sure to prove as busy at times as the spectator walkways out on the course. Last year the R&A were criticised in some quarters for making changes to that and, once again, only official Open merchandise will be for sale.

But, admitting lessons were learned from 12 months ago at Royal Lytham, R&A secretary Peter Dawson has promised a better overall facility on this occasion.

Few events cater better for youngsters. Continuing a policy which has been in place now for a number of years, anyone under 16 will gain free admission as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

And, once in, there will be the opportunity for them to receive coaching from PGA professionals in the Junior Golf Tent.

As for the course itself, little has changed from when Faldo cemented his relationship with the place when he completed his title double ten years ago, the Englishman having also triumphed in 1987. The 13th, Tom Watson’s "favourite short hole in the world", has been stretched by 32 yards, and now measures 191 yards. The hole is played up to a long, narrow green which angles back to the left among tumbling dunes and punishing bunkers.

The only other change to the course has been made at the fourth, another short hole. There, the hole has been extended to 213 yards, making the overall length 7034 yards compared to 6969 ten years ago.

That’s still not long in terms of championship courses these days but, after almost being battered into submission by the monstrous Bethpage Black course in US Open you sense the world’s top players are looking forward to a test where strategy is likely to be more important than booming drives. Everyone who was asked about Muirfield at Loch Lomond last week spoke in glowing terms of the East Lothian links with many saying it was their favourite course on the rota.

Unfortunately, the recent wet spell has left the course a lot greener than it normally would be at this time of the year while, at the same time, the rough has shot up.

But neither of those factors are likely to detract from what promises to be a true sporting spectacle being held on Edinburgh’s doorstep.

And, thanks to the pre-planning which has been done by the R&A in tandem with the Muirfield officials and local authorities, the 2002 Open certainly shouldn’t be the target of criticism from the Bernie Ecclestones of this world.