Brad Faxon is waiting to get in



Chances aren't good for the American, a sixth alternate, but he made the trip anyway.
HOYLAKE, England (AP) -- Brad Faxon loves the British Open too much to stay away, even with little chance of playing.
Faxon was the sixth alternate, reason enough for him to travel across the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday night to be around Royal Liverpool in case a half-dozen guys decide to pull out.
"If I didn't come over and my number got called, I'd kill myself," Faxon said Monday evening while ordering pints at a pub. "I wouldn't kill myself, but I'd be pretty upset."
Then he paused to assess the situation before saying with only a tinge of desperation, "Somebody has got to withdraw."
A year ago, Faxon endeared himself to the British gallery by coming over to Scotland to take his chances in a local qualifier the weekend before the British Open. He narrowly earned one of three spots from a 96-man field.
He didn't get that chance this year because the Royal & amp; Ancient moved up local qualifying by one week, making it impractical.
Faxon also didn't get a chance in the U.S. qualifier because it was canceled by heavy rain that flooded Congressional. The R & amp;A awarded the spots off the world ranking, and Faxon was too far down the list.
Now, his only chance is for six players to withdraw, which is unlikely.
Allowed to practice
The trip hasn't been a total waste of time. Faxon is allowed to practice at Royal Liverpool, and "I even got a car park pass." He plans to play today with Brett Quigley, Mark Calcavecchia and Jerry Kelly.
"I get chills just coming here," Faxon said. "I feel rejuvenated."
And if he has to turn around and go home on Thursday?
"You know, we just walked a mile for dinner, walked another mile to a pub, I haven't slept, and we're just having a blast," he said.
Oh, and there's one other upside.
"I'm hitting my 3-iron 260 yards," he said. "I never do that."
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