Golf:Veteran Thomas Bjorn has been given a place in this week's British Open Championship at Sandwich. The Dane, who blew a three-shot lead with four holes to play at the same course in 2003, was a first reserve for the tournament.

He had spoken about facing a long wait beside the first tee on Thursday, but was handed a place in the field when Vijay Singh was forced to withdraw through injury.

Bjorn said: "I'm just delighted. You don't want to see players pull out, but since Sandwich I have missed some Opens and it makes you realise how much you want to play in them.

"The year after what happened here was difficult, but these are the events you want to be playing in. When I think back I just count myself lucky that I got myself in a position where I had a chance to win. Loads of people don't get that chance."

Singh followed Tiger Woods, Thomas Levet, Tim Clark and David Toms in pulling out of the event and Bjorn gets his opportunity because Australian Brendan Jones turned down the chance to step in because his wife is expecting.

The world number 80 is best remembered for taking three in a greenside bunker at the short 16th when victory was within sight.

He will play it again for the first time in practice on Tuesday and said: "When I get there I won't be thinking 'this is a horror hole' - it's a good hole.

"I just tried to erase it from my memory, but it might just creep into my mind on Sunday if I am playing well!

"You've really got a problem if you live eight years in the past. It was difficult for me when I played at Troon in 2004 - I really didn't want to be there - but these are the events you want to play in and I'm delighted.

"At the same time, though, there's some big names who have pulled out and you don't want to see that.

"I count myself lucky that I got myself in a position where I had a chance to win. Loads of people don't get the chance, but I was good enough to get there and I just didn't finish it off.

"When I get out there in practice it's a golf course. I won't relive what happened - I'll just play what's in front of me."

He will tee off at 7.25am on Thursday with England's Simon Dyson - he was another of the reserves called in - and American Gary Woodland.

Bjorn was in a play-off for the Irish Open a week after his Royal St George's nightmare, but then admitted to "fighting demons" as his game fell apart for a while.

He was won four times since, though, most recently the Qatar Masters in February.

Three months later his father died after a long illness and the chairman of the European Tour players' committee, also one of Colin Montgomerie's assistants in last year's Ryder Cup, said it has put a lot of things - Sandwich included - into perspective.

"People made a lot of what happened. But people thought Rory (McIlroy) would never get over what happened at The Masters this year and just look what he did," Bjorn said.

In the very next major, of course, the 22-year-old Northern Irishman won the US Open by eight with a record 16-under-par score.

"I've been asked if I would go back to Sandwich if I got in," Bjorn said. "But it's The Open and you know how I feel about European golf and the majors. You want to play.

"And I'll tell you what, to be totally honest with you, when I got here yesterday and looked at the clubhouse I couldn't remember being here."