ESPN.com - Golf Online - British Open 2000 - Champions return to birthplace of golf

Associated Press
Wednesday, July 19

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- At 88, Sam Snead did a little soft-shoe dance crossing the historic Swilken Bridge on the 18th hole at the Old Course.

No king

Arnold Palmer was not among the 22 former champions who played Wednesday in a four-hole exhibition on the Old Course.

There was no snub, however. Palmer was invited but decided against it.

"He said his goodbyes in '95," said his agent, Doc Giffin. "He hasn't indicated to me any great sadness in not playing."

Palmer, 70, won the Open in 1961 at Birkdale and 1962 at Troon.

A rule whereby past winners were exempt until age 65 was altered in 1995 to "65 and under" so Palmer could compete at St. Andrews that year. At the time, Palmer said it was almost certainly his final appearance at St. Andrews.

At 77, Roberto de Vicenzo lifted his tee shot into a strong tailwind and drove the ball just to the left of the 357-yard 18th.

Lee Trevino said he felt a "shiver" as he strolled up the 18th fairway of golf's most sacred course.

The three were among 22 former British Open champions who gathered Wednesday to play four holes together. The only no-shows were Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller and the injured Greg Norman.

"I didn't hear from one player who didn't think this was a great idea for them to go out there and dance before 30 or 35,000 people," said the 60-year old Trevino, who won the British Open in 1971 and 1972.

"I got goosebumps coming up 18 looking at all the people on the right or left. And Sam dancing on the bridge. That was wonderful."

Jack Nicklaus, who begins play Thursday in what will probably be his final British Open, birdied the 17th -- the infamous Road Hole.

"Sure, but it was sandwiched between two bogeys," lamented Nicklaus, who usually dislikes ceremonies like this one. "I think we all enjoyed it. No one was going: 'Oh no, another one of those.' "

Ian Baker-Finch, who won the Open in 1991 and never did much afterward, birdied Nos. 17 and 18 and started talking of a "limited comeback."

"Each time I do something like this it makes me feel a little bit more like coming back and playing again," said Baker-Finch, a golf announcer for ESPN and ABC. "But this would not be a serious comeback."

For the record, the team of Tom Lehman, Tom Weiskopf and Paul Lawrie won the event at 2-under.

Ryder Cup push
Scotland wants to play host to the 2009 Ryder Cup.

"There is no better location for the tournament than in the country known as the home of golf," said Glen Kirton, the bid committee head who also landed England's 1996 European Championship in soccer. "There are more than 500 golf courses in Scotland and each of the five who are bidding to stage the Ryder Cup, if we succeed in bringing it here, represents everything that golf in Scotland stands for."

Bids for the 2009 Ryder Cup must be submitted by the end of September. The Ryder Cup committee will decide by the end of December which country is successful.

The five Scottish courses in the running are: St. Andrews, Carnoustie, Gleneagles, Turnberry and Loch Lomond. If Scotland's bid is successful, the Ryder Cup committee will decide next year which course will be the host.

Scotland has only held one Ryder Cup, in 1973 at Muirfield.

It faces competition from Slaley Hall in England, Celtic Manor in Wales, a yet undetermined course in Sweden, and Caldas near Barcelona.

Comeback kid
Michael Campbell doesn't want to be remembered as the flashy, young upstart who squandered a 3-stroke lead at the British Open and handed the title to John Daly.

If he gets ahead this time, he's going home with the famous Claret Jug.

On his first visit to St. Andrews in 1995, the New Zealander was the leader going into the final round but lost it when he shot a 76.

That was in his first tournament at the home of golf in only his second year as a pro. This time, he says, the maturity that comes with five more years experience -- much of it a struggle -- will make sure he's better prepared.

"My form this year and recently is at least as good as five years ago and there's no reason why I can't get into the same position again," he said after his practice round on the eve of the 129th Open.

"This time I feel more at ease. Five years ago I was a bit jumpy."