Little large at Loch Lomond

STUART LITTLE pushed some of the sport's biggest names into the shade yesterday. The 37-year-old English left-hander, ranked 369th in the world, took a share of the first-round lead in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

A seven under 64 - in relation to par his best-ever score on the circuit - put Little alongside Argentina's Angel Cabrera in a tournament boasting four of the world's top 10.

Number three Ernie Els and number seven Adam Scott managed only 70 and fifth-ranked Retief Goosen merely a 71, but number four Phil Mickelson is handily placed just three behind.

As for Europe's leading lights, Lee Westwood and 1999 Open champion Paul Lawrie did best with 65s to be tied for third with South African Richard Sterne, while Darren Clarke shot 67 and both Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald 68.

Little, trying to get the place in next week's Open on offer, has made no fewer than 10 trips to the qualifying school since turning professional way back in 1985 and has yet to finish in the top 100 on the Order of Merit.

Westwood does not have to worry about qualifying for the Open, of course.

He was Europe's top player when he finished fourth in last year's Open and with a win at St Andrews in the 2003 Dunhill links championship he cannot wait to get back there next week.

He famously said on an earlier trip to the Home of Golf that he would not rate it "in the top 200 courses in Fife", but his conversion has come "over a period of time."

"I'm 32 now and know a bit better. I know not to open my mouth because you guys will write it down and I'll get reminded about it for the rest of time.

"I'd only been playing golf for 10 years. That was five years as a kid not really knowing what I'm doing - and five years as a professional knowing even less. When you play it for the first time you look at it and it doesn't give you the impression that you have to think about it a lot. But you have to know where the flags are and be on certain sides.

"It's a pretty decent golf course!"

In 1995 Westwood finished 93rd and five years ago 64th. He will be looking for a much bigger improvement in a week's time.

Having boosted his confidence with victory in the BMW Championship at Wentworth in May, big-hitting Cabrera will be licking his lips at the prospect too and could be dark horse for the Open.

Last year he did not even play in the event after making the mistake he was already exempt and not showing up for the qualifying event at Sunningdale.