The notion of discovering how the other half lives will be given fresh meaning in a golfing context today when an elite field of 156 challenge for the 128th British Open at Carnoustie.

Big-hitting professionals will know the toil of the humble hacker by playing woods and long irons to par fours and shooting scores which wouldn't earn even honourable mention in a monthly medal.

At least that's what we are being led to believe about the return of the game's premier championship to the Angus links after a lapse of 24 years. In the absence of sufficient cash to challenge the huge awards of the modern game, it is as if the Royal and Ancient have decided to retain a distinctive challenge through course difficulty.

"If Tiger Woods doesn't win, or come close to winning this week, some sort of silliness will have been perpetrated." This was the considered view yesterday of Peter Thomson, whose five victories in the championship have made him a legend of the modern game.

Against a background of almost unanimous whinging by the professionals, however, it is necessary to instil some perspective into the situation. Carnoustie is undoubtedly difficult. And it may become extremely so if the wind blows.

But Murphy's Irish Open champion Sergio Garcia - "call me Sergio" - had 16 pars and two birdies in a round on Tuesday and covered 16 holes in two over par when winds freshened yesterday.

And the R and A are unrepentant. Hugh Campbell, chairman of the championship committee said yesterday: "I think our strategy in setting the course up is to present Carnoustie with the same degree of difficulty as it had for previous Open championships, certainly in my time, which goes back to Ben Hogan."

So what would Hogan make of today's challenge? "I had the privilege of seeing Hogan hit a peak of perfection, but I think that in reasonable conditions, even he would have to be happy with four 72s," replied Thomson.

Defending champion Mark O'Meara, who drove the ball an average of 268 yards on the USPGA Tour last year, complained that he hit the driver only three times in his final practice round yesterday. And his only safe route to the green at the 474-yard ninth was with a one iron followed by a three wood.

So what, you may ask. The fact is that while such clubbing has often to be accepted even by accomplished amateurs, professionals feel they are hard done by if such demands are made on them. The fact is that it is possible to hit driver on all of the driving holes at Carnoustie, provided the player is straight enough to stay on the narrow fairways.

Thomson believes, however, that the course has been made too severe to allow any scope for high winds, which seem certain at some stage over the next four days. But he had no sympathy with O'Meara's predicament. "The long second shot separates the men from the boys," he said with typical Anti-podean bluntness.

The key to success this weekend may be found in the personalities of the players who have triumphed at this venue - Tommy Armour, Henry Cotton, Hogan, Gary Player and Tom Watson. From Armour's recovery after the loss of an eye in the first World War, to Player's determination and Watson's pragmatism, the virtue common to all those five champions was mental strength.

That and the long fairway shots are the ingredients which should decide the destination of what is becoming one of the most controversial Opens in recent history. One suspected yesterday that O'Meara has just about given up the fight, which is hardly surprising in view of his estimated earnings of $7.5 million world-wide last year. As he said with a smile: "It's okay by me because I'm 42 and in semi-retirement."

But he added: "Fans will be interested to see how players cope with the difficulties they are certain to encounter on this golf course. And I don't want to see it calm out there."

The champion went on to address the sort of mental strength which players like Thomson had in abundance. "When I look at young guys like Woods, Duval and now Sergio, I'm awestruck by their skills," he said. "Mentally, they're not intimidated by the game's challenges. Indeed I marvel at how mature they become at such an early age."

In these circumstances, youth can be blind. "It's a monster - maybe too severe," said Seve Ballesteros yesterday. It is doubtful, however, if he would have expressed that view 20 years ago. So it was hardly surprising to hear his young compatriot predict: "Inside of me, I think it will be a great championship."

"I realise now that I can win tournaments," added Garcia, "so I'll try to play well. But this sport is not always as easy as it looks."

Then, as if he had somehow been privy to Thomson's observations, he headed for the practice ground where he sent long-iron shots ripping through the air like arrows towards a white flag, 250 yards away.

Vijay Singh could also be regarded as a brilliant striker of long irons. And he has the considerable advantage of a major breakthrough in the USPGA Championship at Sahalee, Seattle, last August. And Ernie Els and Lee Westwood have comparable skills.

But my belief is that the treasured claret jug will be won by the competitor with a strong mind to complement a strong game. Which probably eliminates the emotional Colin Montgomerie while favouring the blinkered discipline of Duval.

With the weather likely to play an unusually critical roll this weekend, the outcome of the championship is difficult to predict. While Duval has the make-up to prevail over younger rivals Woods and Garcia, I also expect strong challenges from Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman and the gifted Australian Stuart Appleby.