MAYO RECALLS HIS OPEN CHALLENGE

ALL eyes will be on Carnoustie next week as the famous Scottish course prepares to host the 147th Open Championship.

The Open has produced many memorable moments down the years but the 1987 tournament, at Muirfield, will live long in the memory for Welshman Paul Mayo.

The 55-year-old Pontnewyddbased star had a stellar 12 months that year with victories in the Welsh Amateur and British Amateur, with the latter securing him a place at the Open.

He had also played in the Walker Cup that year too (pictured right) but the highlight was claiming the Silver Medal for finishing as the leader amateur who completed all four rounds.

And Mayo is in no doubt that the Open sits at the top of the golfing Majors.

“It’s the best tournament in the world,” he said. “There is no question about that, the Open Championship is the best and I’ve had some extremely fond memories – winning the Silver Medal was quite special to me.

“The Open is incredible, you’ve only got to look at the size of the entry for qualifying, everybody and their dog tries to go through qualifying because everybody wants to play at the Open.

“It is to golf what Wimbledon is to tennis. Everybody wants to win a Major. Being a British player, you want to win your home open championship. [Andy] Murray tried so hard to win Wimbledon, there is no feeling like it I’m sure.

“It is the pinnacle, if you’ve played in the Open Championship there’s not much more to do as a player.

“[Sir Nick] Faldo won that year and I sat on the top table and received the amateur medal and Faldo, also on the top table, received the Claret Jug.”