Golf

Quirks, history draw few to links

For American Brad Faxon, qualifying for golf's oldest tournament is well worth the hassle.

By BOB HARIG
Published July 11, 2005

LUNDIN LINKS, Scotland - Looking down from the clubhouse, it was easy to spot Brad Faxon. He was the one with 150 people following him Sunday morning on a 100-year-old golf course, a real, live PGA Tour player in their midst.

To them, his presence was appreciated and respected. They knew what was at stake: a spot in this week's Open Championship, some 20 miles down the road at St. Andrews.

But not everyone gets it. More than a few Americans have been known to turn their noses up at the prospect of qualifying for golf's oldest tournament. Too much hassle, too much expense, quirky golf.

Faxon wouldn't have it any other way.

"You win a tournament like this, it changes your life," Faxon said Sunday. "You're not going to win staying home."

And now Faxon has a chance to win.

One of just two Americans among 384 players spread out at four venues, he managed to make it into the Open field by shooting 133, 9 under par, through 36 holes of qualifying.

That is why the seven PGA Tour titles went out the window. So did the $16-million in prize money. For Faxon, 43, who lives in Barrington, R.I., but was not exempt for the 134th Open Championship that begins Thursday at the Old Course, it would have been easy to stay home, get ready for some other $5-million tournament, save the hassle.

But he ventured to Europe on Wednesday, visited Ireland, then got ready for one of the four 96-player qualifiers contested on Saturday and Sunday at famous links courses near the Open site.

Faxon was assigned to Lundin Golf Club, a seaside-parkland hybrid hard by the Firth of Forth. It was designed in 1908 by James Braid, who won the Open Championship five times, including the year Lundin opened.

"There is a special feeling playing these links courses and competing in the oldest major in the world," Faxon said.

Like many links courses, Lundin has its quirks - out of bounds runs through the middle of the entire course - along with shared fairways, plenty of bunkers, a couple of "wee" burns (creeks). It also has several stunning views of the Firth of Forth, and could undoubtedly be a wicked test when the typically windy conditions prevail.

The weekend, however, was hardly like summer in Scotland. The sun shined, and the wind was but a cool breeze. Faxon opened with 7-under-par 64, then followed with 69 Sunday that left him fretting. With only three spots in the Open, he figured he was done.

But only Lars Brovold of Norway (130) was able to beat Faxon's score of 133, posted by noon. Amateur Oscar Floren of Sweden tied Faxon for the final spot.

"I'm delighted," said Faxon, who tied for 15th at St. Andrews in 1995. "I love playing over here. I really wish they had the qualifier over here and not in the States. That's not links golf. It's not the same."

Faxon was referring to last year, when tournament organizers decided to put qualifying venues outside of Britain in an attempt to give more world-class players a chance to gain entry to the field.

The U.S. qualifier on June 27 in New Jersey, however, coincided with a charity event Faxon runs with fellow tour player Billy Andrade. Not that it would have mattered.

"I was going to come over here anyway," he said.

The international qualifiers have changed the dynamics of these local events. It used to be that 12 to 15 spots were available per venue, meaning some 50 players gained entry to the tournament on the final weekend. Paul Lawrie and Jean Van de Velde, who were in the 1999 Open playoff, got in through qualifying.

Now the numbers are reduced. Just three players get into the Open from each qualifying spot, and few of the names are recognizable.

One of Faxon's playing partners was Jon Sutherland, a 24-year-old pro from Cirencester, England, who only learned he got a spot as an alternate on Friday night.

"This is very, very difficult," said Sutherland, who failed to qualify. "I commend him (for coming). But it's worth it. The rewards are there."

Such are the rewards that Faxon tried to qualify locally the last time the Open was at St. Andrews - even though he was the defending champion at the B.C. Open, played the same week. Faxon sent his apologies to the B.C. Open folks, attempted to qualify but missed. So he flew back to New York and managed to win the B.C. Open again.

"There is nothing like the golf over here," Faxon said. "There are so many options. It's really neat. The history. I think the players owe it to themselves to come over here and do this. There are always some who don't do it."

Faxon wondered why Billy Mayfair, who earned a spot in the Open with a high finish July 3 at the Western Open, decided not to come and play St. Andrews. No matter. Faxon made the effort and gets to tee it up at the Old Course.

"I don't know what it speaks to, really," Faxon said. "I'm not trying to impress people. I'm just trying to get into the Open."

[Last modified July 11, 2005, 01:01:12]