Luke Donald among the favourites for The Open

THE Open is returning to Royal St George’s next week.

Royal St George’s is on the south coast of England and has held the event 13 times before.

The last player to win the Claret Jug there was Ben Curtis in 2003. Ben Curtis was a little known American at the time.

Thomas Bjorn had led The Open that year by two with three holes to play. But it wasn’t to be Bjorn’s year, he dropped shots at the Par 3 16th when he took three to get out of the bunker, finishing the hole with a double bogey five.

In the same year Mark Roe was disqualified after he had signed for a 67. He and his playing partner, Jesper Parnevik, and forgotten to swap their cards before the round.

Those who watched the event will also remember Woods losing his opening drive in the thick rough of the course. He had to go back and play three off the tee.

Unfortunately, Tiger Woods won’t be playing this year as he has had to pull out because of an injury.

Royal St George’s is also the setting for Ian Fleming’s book Goldfinger, where James Bond plays golf against the villain of the story. The venue was not used for the setting of the film though and it was changed to Stoke Park, near London.

Ian Fleming was a member of RSG too.

Favourite to win among those who will be playing are Rory McIlroy, who has just won The US Open, in spectacular style.

Another European player in with a chance is Luke Donald, a golfer in good form at the moment and the World Number One.

Lee Westwood, yet to win a major, will be hoping to break his duck as well.