NOTEBOOK British Open

Blast from the past: Warren Bladon has all the traits of a long-shot qualifier at the British Open. He makes about $10 an hour framing pictures in Coventry, and the only golf he plays is Wednesday and Saturday, a regular game he keeps with his friends at Forest of Arden. He moonlights as a plumber's assistant. Money is so scarce that his girlfriend paid the $200 entry fee for the British Open, asking only that he practice a little harder. Bladon, 40, did well enough to make it through regional qualifying, then earned one of three spots in a local qualifier last week. "I was a little surprised," Bladon said. But there is more to him that a blue-collar worker who can play. Bladon has played in the Masters, even getting in nine holes of a practice round with Jack Nicklaus, then played in the Memorial. He once competed against Tiger Woods for the silver medal that goes to the low amateur at the British Open, losing out in 1996 when Woods shot 66 in the second round to make the cut at Royal Lytham & amp; St. Annes. Bladon is known to most European players as having won the British Amateur at Turnberry in 1996, but his professional career didn't pan out. "I traveled the world playing golf, and I found it difficult to get a sponsor," Bladon said Monday. "To get a full sponsorship in your 30s is difficult when there's all these young players coming up behind you." Bladon ran a pub for a while, had a marriage end in divorce, and now is quite happy framing pictures and playing golf. This is quite a change. "I just want to do as well as I can," he said. "I want to come off the course knowing that I haven't been overcome by it, control myself and hit the right shots at the right time. And if I do that, then I'll be happy." Bladon already is a little ahead of the game. He earned about $1,600 from final qualifying, and is guaranteed $3,800 for competing in the British Open. That should at least help him pay back his girlfriend for the entry fee.
Eyes on Seve: Seve Ballesteros, whose career was derailed by back injuries, plans to play the British Open for the first time in five years. Then again, it's only Monday. Ballesteros has talked about returning to competition over the past few years, but then withdraws as the tournament gets closer. He played the Madrid Open late last year and missed the cut by 14 shots, and played last month in the French Open, finishing two rounds at 20 over par. "Seve's here?" Nick Faldo said Monday. Faldo said he doesn't blame Ballesteros for only wanting to play in the Masters and British Open, the two majors he won that comes with exemptions that last a lifetime at Augusta National and until he is 65 at the British Open. "That's what I would do -- pop up for the odd Masters and British Open," Faldo said. "I don't think he's trying to rebuild his career."
Waiting game: Coming off his first PGA Tour victory, Trevor Immelman wasn't sure he would be at the British Open. Immelman's wife, Carminita, is expecting their first child at home in Orlando, Fla. After holding off Tiger Woods to win the Western Open two weeks ago near Chicago, the South African went home and got a good report from the doctor. "We're expecting the end of next week," Immelman said. "We went to the doctor right before I came over here and he didn't see any chance that she was going to have the kid this week. We've got a few people with their cell phones on, and they'll let me know if something happens and I'll try to get back."
Associated Press