Twice Muirfield winner Faldo takes sneak peak ahead of British Open

Scotland (Agencies): Nick Faldo got a sneak preview Tuesday of the Muirfield course where he won two of his three British Opens and where the championship returns next week.

"The course is exactly the way I remember it, just a lot greener," Faldo said. "It's not very 'linksy' at the moment, but who knows? A few days of sun and wind would soon fix that. That apart, the course is in lovely condition."

Faldo, who also has won three Masters titles as well as a British Open at St. Andrews at 1990, won at Muirfield in 1987 and '92 during a spell when he was the top player in the game. Although his game has slipped badly since then, he has recovered in recent months and finished fifth at last month's US Open.

Faldo took three weeks off after that tournament and has also just recovered from a bout of gastroenteritis. Before going into this week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, he took time off for a practice round at Muirfield.

"I just had to do it, to come and remind myself of the course and of the subtleties of links golf," he said.

"Links courses in general have a lack of definition and it takes time to know where to aim for and where to hit the ball. I think it's essential to play a links course before tackling the Open and to get back into the way of playing links golf.

"Today wasn't a particularly strong wind and yet on many occasions it wasn't worthwhile taking on the bunkers. No doubt many players will, but their locations, on corners of doglegs, makes it a very risky shot. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

South Africa's Ernie Els also took an early look at Muirfield.

"The course is just set up beautifully," he said. "The R&A (Royal and Ancient) and the club have done a wonderful job in getting it to this condition. It is as fair a test as you can see.

"It looks narrow and daunting for you out there, but it is so well designed and the layout is so good that you can run the ball into every hole -the way links golf is meant to be played."

Meanwhile in Loch Lomond, Scotland, Retief Goosen defends his title at this week's Scottish Open and will want to build on the improved form he displayed in tying for second at the European Open in Ireland on Sunday.

The 33-year-old South African closed with a three-under-par 68 at the K Club, finishing just a stroke behind winner Michael Campbell to strengthen his position at the top of the 2002 European money list.

That represented a welcome upturn in fortune for world number four Goosen, who had slipped to joint-60th ami joint-77th in his previous two European Tour events.

He also missed the cut by a shot as defending US Open champion at Bethpage State Park three weeks ago.

Twelve months ago at picturesque Loch Lomond, the South African eased to a wire-to-wire victory in the Scottish Open, firing a last day 71 to take the title by three strokes from Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.