The Open returns to Royal Lytham this July

THE Open Golf Championship is to return to Royal Lytham and St Anne’s this July.

This is the first time the event has been held at the North West course since 2001, when David Duval took the title.

That was the same year Ian Woosnam was leading the competition, but had to take a two-shot penalty at the first tee on the Sunday because he had too many clubs in his bag.

In 2001 Duval finished with a 67 with birdies at the 6th, 7th and 11th. His total was 274, which was three better than Niclas Fasth who came second.

The Open has been played 10 times at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.

American amateur Bobby Jones was the winner of the first Open to be staged at the course in 1926. He finished with rounds of 72, 72, 73 and 74 with a combined score of 291.

The first European winner of The Open was England’s Tony Jacklin in 1969.

Seve Ballesteros, the only other European to win the event at Lytham, won his first Open in 1979 and his third and last Open at the course in 1988. He also took the title in 1984 at St Andrews.

The first American to win at Lytham after Bobby Jones was Tom Lehman in 1996. He played in the last round with Nick Faldo, who the majority of home fans were cheering for.

Lehman won by two that year from Ernie Els who came joint second with Mark McCumber.

Nick Faldo finished fourth.

The Artist up for 12 awards at the BAFTAS

FILM lovers will be following the BAFTA film awards which take place tonight (Sunday) at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and are hosted by Stephen Fry.

This ceremony is an early indication of which way the awards may go at the Oscars, taking place at the end of the month.

The film, which has received the most nominations is The Artist (a silent film), which has 12.

The next film is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with 11, including one for Gary Oldman as lead actor.

At the event, the most prestigious award is for Best Film and the films competing in that category are The Help, The Artist, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Drive and The Descendants.

One of the favourites for Leading Actress is Meryl Streep for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. She will be up against Berenice Bejo (The Artist), Viola Davis (The Help) and Michelle Williams (My Week With Marilyn).

The most likely to take Leading Actor is George Clooney for his character in The Descendants. He will be competing against Brad Pitt (Moneyball), Gary Oldman, Michael Fassbender (Shame) and The Artist’s Jean Dujardin.

Other films to receive multiple nominations include Martin Scorsese’s first film for children, Hugo, which received nine nominations.

Steven Spielberg’s latest blockbuster about the First World War, War Horse, was given five nominations.

The awards are shown on TV from 9pm.