Wolstenholme wants peace with Woods

ATTENTION in golf is firmly fixed on the US Open this week — and Tiger Woods’ attempt to defend the one Major title he has left.

But one British player is already thinking of Woods' appearance in next month's Open at Sandwich. It will be the first event they have both competed at in eight years.

Gary Wolstenholme, thrilled to win the British Amateur Championship again at the weekend at the age of 42, will be delighted to meet the world number one again after such a long time. However, he is not sure whether Woods will be equally delighted.

"Apparently he has bad memories of me and I don't want that," says Wolstenholme, who famously beat the American superstar in the 1995 Walker Cup at Royal Porthcawl.

"On at least two occasions since then, during Opens I've attended, he's looked straight through me. We've not spoken a word since Porthcawl.

"Maybe he feels I didn't show him enough respect, but I certainly don't think that was the case. I was a competitor trying to win and so was he.

"I've enormous respect for him and it would be nice if we could have a chat. I certainly didn't hit him or say anything nasty about him, but I'd like to make amends for whatever it is he may hold against me.

"One thing did cross my mind soon after my win on Saturday. Is someone going to be mischievous and pair me with him at Royal St George's?" Whether it happens or not, Wolstenholme intends to enjoy his reign and to show a wider audience just how talented a golfer he is.

Considering he first won the British crown in 1991 and the fact that he claimed Woods' scalp, it is amazing that the director of golf at Kilworth Springs in Leicestershire has not played in a European Tour event since the 1993 Benson and Hedges International Open.

He would love that to change, however, and added: "Although I've no thoughts of turning professional I'd really like to receive some invitations to play. I feel I can add something to a tournament.

"I was not good enough to be competitive when I was younger, but I think I can be now."

Victory at Royal Troon also earned Wolstenholme a second trip to the Masters at Augusta next April.

On his first appearance in 1992 he partnered Arnold Palmer and led the event after going to the turn in 33 but then fell away and did not even make the halfway cut.

Wolstenholme confesses that winning the title again, especially at his age and after such a long gap, was "almost like a shot of Viagra" and had him so excited that he could not wait to get his hands on the trophy.

"I was like a kid. You could have taken me to a toy shop as a five-year-old and I wouldn't have been so happy. I was close to tears.

"I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to win it again and now that I have I'm going to do all I can to be an ambassador for amateur golf."