With the British Open getting under way in just over a fortnight's time, it's worth mentioning that no major in recent years has put such a hex on its champions. The likes of Ian Baker-Finch and David Duval . . .winners at Royal Birkdale and Royal Lytham in 1991 and 2001 respectively . . . saw their careers unravel after lifting the Claret Jug, while others such as Paul Lawrie and Todd Hamilton . . .

Carnoustie and Troon in 1999 and 2004 . . . have simply stalled in the wake of their successes.

Ben Curtis, the surprise champion at Royal St George's three years ago, will be glad to have his name removed from the list following his overdue victory at the Booz Allen Classic earlier in the week.

BALLESTEROS BEMUSES WITH BASKETBALL QUIP

Never one to sit on the fence, Seve Ballesteros has now given the US Open the thumbs down, calling it the "worst of the majors".

Speaking before he shot a couple of 81s to miss the cut at the French Open . . . his "rst tournament in nearly nine months . . . Ballesteros was clearly not too enamoured of the events at Winged Foot. "I watched 45 minutes of the third round and didn't see a single birdie, so I decided not to continue watching it. For me, it was like watching basketball rather than golf. It's very sad to see real champions "nishing plus-20 and I don't think that's the spirit of the game.

"I've never been in favour of the US Open in any way, and I think it's the worst of the majors."

Each to his own, but as for likening the US Open to basketball? One is bemused.

MICKELSON PREPARES TO FLY HIGH AT HOYLAKE

While his disastrous finish at the recent US Open was certainly not part of the master plan, Phil Mickelson hasn't suddenly abandoned his meticulous preparation methods. On the back of the double bogey at Winged Foot's finishing hole which cost him a shot at the grand slam, Mickelson still appears hell-bent on adding the British Open to his list of majors.

After piloting his own private jet into Liverpool from the west coast of America last Monday with his caddie Jim Mackay and short-game coach Dave Pelz, Mickelson spent four hours on the back nine at Hoylake, had some lunch, then checked out the front nine. He will no doubt be hoping for a pay-off from this extra reconnaissance because in 13 British Open appearances, he has only one top-10 finish.

WESTWOOD KISSED BY THE RAIN

When the US qualifying tournament for the British Open . . . 118 competitors for a dozen places . . .was cancelled earlier in the week in Washington due to inclement weather, the 12 spots still available for the event in Hoylake were doled out on the basis of the world rankings.

That turned out to be a reprieve for Lee Westwood who is at 59 in the rankings despite missing the cut in his last seven tournaments before the French Open.