The Open / Ralph Ellis / 10 July 2008 /

No Tiger Woods means the Open at Royal Birkdale will be exactly that next week. Wide open. We caught up with former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker on the shores of Loch Lomond for an exclusive chat about what to expect.

Tell us about the Open and what it means to you personally to be back there again

It means a hell of a lot, actually. My first Open was way back in 1974 at Royal Lytham when my mother and father took me there. I was only seven years old but I can still remember it. We used to go up most years to the Open, and as a kid growing up I saw a lot. I can remember Watson and Sevvy winning. I suppose because you are brought up on it you understand the history, and as a British person it means a lot more to you than maybe the other majors. To me it's the biggest event in the world and the best too

So what are your best memories from playing in them?

I've done well a couple of times, back in 1993 when Greg Norman one at St George's I got in the top 20, and then again at Birkdale, not the last time it was there but the time before. It's one of my favourite courses because I've done well there in the past in an English Open too.

You had to qualify to get to this one. What was that like?

Pretty tough. I got through a play-off at Sunningdale and edged out Jose Maria Olazabal. That wasn't easy because I've known him way back to when we were kids playing England against Spain. He probably wasn't quite match sharp, he's had a bad run with illness, and it was a shame for him he went out. I couldn't afford any sentiment though because I was delighted I got through

So how do you prepare now?

Obviously I'm at Loch Lomond for the Scottish Open, hopefully until Sunday, then I'll go back home and travel back up to Birkdale with my family on Tuesday morning.

It must be a bit of a balance between playing and practising and trying to be fresh for a big event. How much time do you spend working at the moment?

Easier to ask how much I don't! You have to put the work in, and most days that means all day, even when you are playing. I tend to try to divide my practice into several two or three hour spots. You're looking at playing, then trying to get some quality work on your chipping, putting, and then the full shot.

It's been a big season for you after getting your tour card back? You must be fed up with hearing how life begins at 40!

Not at all. It meant a lot to me to get back on tour. It's been a tough year so far, I've felt I've not played too badly and need a few results to back it up. I feel like I'm playing decent enough, and to get into the Open has been a bonus. I'm not sure how many I've played in now, maybe 14 or 15, and each one is a very special occasion. It won't go on forever so every time means something more.

You had a really good career, made a name for yourself in the Ryder Cup, you were eighth in the European Order of Merit in 2001 and then three years later lost your card. Where did it all go wrong?

That sounds like George Best's question! But I never had Miss World or a few hundred thousand in casino winnings! Seriously I think I just lost my confidence, and I stopped enjoying playing golf as much as I should have. I think I just got burned out over the years of travelling and playing, and once it started going wrong it was hard to stop it getting worse. I think that basically snowballed into the effect of losing my card.

Then why has it come right again?

I just realised I still had the desire to do well and I wanted to work at getting back there again. I still felt I had something to offer by playing. I still think I can do it. I started to listen to a lot of sportsmen who had to retire through injuries or whatever, and all of them wished they were still playing. I felt while I could still compete I ought to get on with it and see what I could do.

There's been a lot of rank and file tour pros get into contention for big events lately. Does that mean you'll go up to Royal Birkdale next week thinking you have a chance of winning it?

Absolutely. I still feel I've got the ability to do it. Sport is so fickle, and you are never too far away. All those guys who have suddenly shot into winning, or coming close, in Majors have all played a lot on the tour first, and all the guys who play each week are never too far from having a chance to win on the last day. It's such a fine line. I still feel I've got it in me to win a tournament and compete at the highest levels.

With no Tiger Woods this time everybody must feel that even more.

I think that will make a difference. There will be a lot of guys all of a sudden believing they have a hell of a chance of winning. Some will react well to that, some won't. It's still a shame the world number one won't be there, obviously, but it will still be a great Open and very interesting because a lot of guys will think they have a chance of winning.

What's your favourite hole at Royal Birkdale? And don't say the 19th!

I always think 15, the par five. It's very well bunkered and a really tough hole. Do you take the bunkers on off the tee, or lay up, and then lay up again short of the ditch. It's always one you have to think your way up.

For weekend hackers like us the 13th 498 yard par four sounds frightening.

Yes, that's right. The great thing with Birkdale is there are a lot of good holes. It's one of the fairer courses on the Open rota and plays very well. It will be tough. I believe they've made a few changes with some extra bunkers and tees moved back.

Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els are the favourites in our betting at the moment

Quite rightly. Garcia for me is a great player tee to green. His putting is well talked about, but he putted really well last weekend. The premium on the major course is hitting the fairways and greens, and if he does putt half decent he will have a hell of a chance. Ernie is a different thing, he's gone to a different coach in Butch Harman and played very well on the last nine holes of the US Open, the last 18 really. He looks like he's coming back on form and I think he could do well.

Who else might surprise us?

I think from the American point of view Phil Mickelson will be looking to improve his Open record, and I noticed Jim Furyk has come to a bit of form. I fancy he could be a threat. Then there's this Anthony Kim who won last weekend. That's two he's won this year now, and who knows? It might suit him as a Links player.

Thanks for your time and good luck. We've a £50 free bet for your favourite charity.

The charity will be the NSPCC - my wife is involved with the Wolverhampton branch and it's a great cause. I thought of backing my club Wolves for promotion, but I think I'd better go for something with more chance of happening! I'll go for Sergio Garcia at [12.0] to win the Open - with a rider if it's me against him on the last day I'll be all out to beat him, and then I'll send the NSPCC the money out of my winnings! Gosh, that would be good!

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