LESS than 48 hours before setting out as favourite for the 125th British Open, Nick Faldo celebrated 20 years as a professional golfer yesterday - by having tea with a group of disabled children. During the get-together in the complex here, he presented 20 mechanical wheelchairs at a total value of more than £100,000 - one for his every year in paid ranks.
Indeed there was much talk of anniversaries. For the Englishman, who will be 39 tomorrow, also recalled the first important victory of his career, which came in the English Amateur Championship at this venue in 1975. And, Lytham was the scene of a memorable Ryder Cup debut in 1977, when he beat the then US Masters and British Open champion, Tom Watson, by one hole.
More modest but still important enough for him to remember, was a professional debut at Portmarnock in 1976 when he gained the distinction of leading the pre-qualifiers for the Irish Open. "I wasn't long enough a pro to qualify for prize money, so I couldn't collect the £50 which was useful cash in those days," he said.
Meanwhile, there were lessons for aspiring champions in the way Faldo approached the day. Having practised late on Sunday, he decided on an early start yesterday, which meant getting up at 5.30 a.m. so he could be on the tee two hours later. "I could have done with a while longer in bed, but I wanted to experience the course at that hour," he said.
The pay-off came later. on discovering he would be in the fourth group off the tee tomorrow morning - at 7.33 a.m. - in the company of Fuzzy Zoeller and Robert Allenby. Two matches later, at 7.55, Padraig Harrington is the first Irishman into action in the august company of Fred Couples and Mark McCumber.
Darren Clarke plays at 2.31pm with the big-hitting South African Relief Goosen and US Amateur champion Tiger Woods. "I'll be the shortest in that three-ball," grinned the Ulsterman, who would be considered anything but a slouch off the tee.
But the plum draw from an Irish standpoint has gone to Philip Walton, who will be in action at 2.42 p.m. tomorrow with Nick Price and Ben Crenshaw. "Great! Two nice fellas," was Price's reaction. "I haven't played in competition with Philip before but I know him. We may have practised together.
The 1994 champion was on the practice ground. Suddenly he exclaimed: "Hola Espanol; hola Espanol." Seve Ballesteros heard him the second time. In a delightful moment, the rivals of 1988 greeted each other, shaking hands warmly.
How is your game?" Price asked. "Not so good," came the reply. "Don't worry, Seve, this place always inspires you." The Zimbabwean could speak with some authority, having lost to a final round of 65 eight years ago.
Price is on offer at 25 to 1 to win the title for a second time, with defending champion, John Daly, at 50 to 1. Yet Daly complained: "Those are very low odds. I'm usually around 100 to 1; even 150 to 1."
Daly, who is attempting to become the first player to successfully defend the title since Watson in 1983, went on: "I would feel a lot more comfortable with those odds at St Andrews because it's a course I know I can play well. When I hit a driver there, I don't have to worry about any bunkers. But this place is different.
"The fairways here are so narrow that I think you can count me out of hitting any of them this week." This shouldn't present insurmountable problems, given that in his victory surge in 1979, Ballesteros hit the driver nine times in the final round and found the fairway only once. Yet, even with such wildness, he had carded a course record equalling 65 on the second day.
Either Daly had read this script or somebody brought it to his attention. "I still plan to hit a lot of drivers," he asserted. "The greens are very firm right now which means you have to play the ball short and run it up anyway you can. This is a real tough golf course - but I like it.
None of the Americans will be pleased to hear that Faldo is feeling good. I've prepared very thoroughly," he said. "Having eased myself back into the feel of links golf by playing Royal St George's for two days last week, I've been striking the ball well over the last few days. It's a question of adjusting to the bounce and the way the ball releases by as much as 20 yards."
Meanwhile, Corey Pavin, who is competing this week for a 12th time has a decidedly patchy record in the British Open, though he was tied fourth at Royal St Georges in 1993 and tied eighth at St Andrews last year. But his mood is distinctly upbeat on this occasion: "You must think your way around this golf course. You must position the ball off the tee and play good shots to the green. And having noted where all the bunkers are, it is clear that the short game is very important here," said last year's US Open champion.
Pavin was tied with Faldo for the lead after three rounds at Sandwich three years ago. Having lost out to Greg Norman on that occasion both of them are set to do battle once more. And Lytham awaits the best they have to offer.
Gary Murphy has been forced to forfeit the £2,634 which he received in the Murphy's Irish Open at Druids Glen on July 7th. The 23-year-old Kilkenny professional has since been disqualified by the PGA European Tour for signing for a four rather than a five at the 14th in a first round of 70. Though the total was correct, the player was responsible for the correctness of the score at each hole.
