GOLF/SENIORS TOUR: After his much-celebrated performance at the British Open at Royal St George's last week, Tom Watson says he is feeling as fresh as ever as he vies for a record fourth Senior British Open title at Walton Heath Golf Club, in Surrey.

The American tees off at 2.20pm today alongside Barry Lane and Nick Price and, when asked if his exertions at Sandwich might affect his performance this week, he was unequivocal.

“I feel fresh,” said Watson (62) yesterday, who didn’t look like a man worn down by the torrential conditions on the Kent coast.

“I took the day off today, just hit some balls and practised my short game a little bit today. But I played a practice round on Monday and played in the pro-am yesterday, but I feel as if I’ve got a pretty good handle on the golf course.

“The golf course is pretty straightforward, as far as knowing what to do. The bunkers and the heather are right there in front of you. They almost say, ‘come here, come here’, and you have to say no!”

Having played in several European Opens at Walton Heath, Price will be attempting to join Gary Player, Bob Charles and Watson as the only players to win both the British Open and Senior British Open Championships.

Leading the Irish challenge are Des Smyth, Denis O’Sullivan, Eamonn Darcy, Mark McNulty and Pat Errity.

WOMEN'S TOUR:The Evian Masters, which is already a major on the Ladies European Tour, will become a major championship on the LPGA from 2013 and will be renamed The Evian.

The announcement was made yesterday ahead of the 18th edition of the tournament, which starts today at Evian Masters GC on Lake Geneva.

The Evian is set to be played in the second week of September 2013 and will be the final major of the season following the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the LPGA Championship, the US Open and the British Open.

The Evian Masters Golf Course will be completely re-designed to create a tougher, more strategic test for 2013.