KEY POINTS:
David Smail prepared for this week's British Open by accepting a few tips on the Royal Birkdale practice range from championship legend Doug Sanders.
It will be Smail's fifth British Open, but his first in two years after failing to qualify for last year's championship at Carnoustie.
The
Texas-born Sanders, who turns 78 on Saturday, won the 1961 US Open but it was at the 1970 British Open that he wrote himself into golfing folklore.
Sanders missed a three-foot birdie putt on the final green that would have handed him a one-shot victory over Jack Nicklaus.
The championship then went to an 18-hole play-off the next day with Nicklaus winning decisively and throwing his putter wildly in the air in celebration of a second of three British Opens wins.
As Nicklaus celebrated Sanders can be seen in video footage picking his ball out of the hole but then throwing it back to the ground in disgust.
Sanders added seven more US Tour titles to his overall tally of 29 victories, but was never a force again in the Majors before ending his British Open career in 1976 at Royal Birkdale.
Smail said he first met Sanders at St Andrews during the course of the 2005 British Open.
"Doug recalled what happened in 1970 when I met him a few years ago and it's obvious he still bears the scars and always will," Smail said.
"He's looking a lot more frail since I saw him last but it was great to meet him again. He was asking me about my game and offering me a few tips which is always appreciated."
Smail qualified for this year's British Open after finishing second on the 2007/08 Australasian Tour Order of Merit.
But this is the first time this year 38-year-old has played anything like a links course.
"I came over early just to start playing those shots you need to play at a British Open and this is my first time at Birkdale and it's definitely the best one I've played," said Smail.
"I just love the course, the way it's set up and everything about it so I am really looking forward to the week."
While Smail is looking forward to teeing up, fellow New Zealander Mark Brown faces a long three-day wait to know if he will take his place in the field.
He was still second reserve on Monday afternoon.
Two players have to withdraw for Brown to get a start. It will mean having to be at the course right up until the final group tees off at 4.21pm on Thursday (5.21am Friday NZT). Smail is due to tee off at 11.52am (12.52am NZT Friday) with Ireland's Philip Walton and American Michael Letzig.
Campbell's tee-off time is 12.25pm (1.25am NZT Friday) with Sweden's Niclas Fasth and 1998 Birkdale British Open winner Mark O'Meara.
- NZPA
