Former champs realistic

By Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent Last updated: 12th July 2010

Past champions Sir Nick Faldo and John Daly will once again be in the field at St Andrews this week, but return with modest ambitions.

While Tiger Woods travels to St Andrews intent on regaining the title he won there in 2005, two fellow Old Course winners have more modest ambitions.

Woods lifted the Claret Jug the last two times the Open was held at St Andrews, in 2005 and 2000, but was still in the amateur ranks - and finished 66th - when John Daly triumphed in 1995.

And the world number one was only 14 years old when Nick Faldo claimed his fourth major title over the famous Scottish links in 1990.

That was Faldo's second major win of the year following his successful Masters defence in April, and saw the Englishman arguably at the peak of his powers.

Faldo carded rounds of 67, 65, 67 and 71 for a record total of 270, 18-under-par, a record only broken by Woods a decade later.

It took until the fourth hole of his final round for Faldo to find one of the Old Course's fearsome bunkers, Woods of course avoided the sand entirely for 72 holes in 2000.

But despite Tom Watson's amazing second place at Turnberry last year just two months short of his 60th birthday, and Greg Norman being in contention at Birkdale two summers ago, Faldo is making no predictions about his chances of doing something similar.

Now 52 - he turns 53 on the final day at St Andrews - Faldo did finish 11th at the Old Course only five years ago, but has since become a full-time commentator in America and a very occasional golfer.

He missed the cut at the BMW International in late June with rounds of 76 and 74 and is realistic about the state of his game ahead of a 34th Open, and seventh at St Andrews.

"In my job I just sit on my backside and it changes your whole body," former Ryder Cup captain Faldo said.

"Your stamina is not the same and mentally it affects things too, you've got to hit shots to boost your confidence."

As for Daly, who knows what mental state he will be in at a course well suited to his powerful, and occasionally wild, game and surprisingly deft putting touch.

In January this year he swiftly backtracked on claims he was retiring from golf, which came when he missed the cut at an event in San Diego.

Daly told a camera crew from the Golf Channel, which had been following the two-time major winner for a reality show called "Being John Daly": "I'm done." Asked to explain what he meant by "done", he added: "With golf.

"I can't compete. I can't play like I used to. I can't keep taking spots from guys out here playing this bad. It's not worth it.

"I'm tired of embarrassing myself in front of my fans. I can't do it any more."

Thankfully for those fans, Daly's game has improved marginally since then, with a total of eight cuts made in 12 events on the PGA Tour in 2010 and he finished tied 26th at Loch Lomond on Sunday.

Off the course there has been more bad news, if not of the entirely new variety, when the full extent of Daly's controversial career came to light in the form of a 456-page file.

The file, a matter of public record because of a court order to hand it over to a publishing firm Daly tried to sue in 2005, revealed Daly has been given five PGA Tour suspensions, fined over £65,000 and handed seven PGA Tour orders to undergo counselling or enter alcohol rehabilitation centres.

The 44-year-old has also been cited 11 times for conduct unbecoming a professional and 21 times for "failing to give best efforts".

But if the R&A are worried about which John Daly will turn up on the first tee on July 15, it seems they have no need to be.

"St Andrews, that's my favourite place on this planet to play," Daly insists. "I wish we played it 40 times a year.

"The thing about St Andrews is, whether you're chipping with a sand wedge, an L-wedge or a seven iron, you have to have some imagination and confidence.

"I feel like I still have that."

Mark Garrod, Press Association Sport Golf Correspondent