LYTHAM is a little bit different in so much that accuracy off the tee will be at a premium.

The fairways are regulation 22 yards wide with knee high rough.

The average championship course is around 7,200 yards, so at 6,900 yards, Lytham is not the longest course in the world and needs the wind to defend it.

Some of the shrubs and trees have been taken away to try and give more access to the wind and not give as much shelter to some second and tee shots.

The first hole opens with a par three which is very unusual for a major venue and is individual because it is not right on the coast.

The sea is not visible from the golf course which makes it quite a mundane venue, surrounded by houses and like many links courses it is like playing on the moon. There are no real features apart from gaping, yawning bunkers.

Bunkering on links courses have to be much more severe and that is what makes them so individual. You have much more undulating greens and hard fast running fairways. If you find a green bunker it will be very hard to get up and down and if you land in a fairway bunker, unless you get the best possible lie, it will be impossible to reach the greens from those traps.

As soon as the ball is hit into a fairway trap it is almost an instant bogey which will make a big difference to the scoring.

The prevailing wind is behind the golfers on the first eight holes, while the last few holes are into the wind.

The greens will not be that fast but they are in great condition. We have had a wet winter and a great period of dry weather which is ideal growing conditions. Although links greens are not notoriously fast - unless it is very windy and dry - they are notoriously undulating so we will see a few double breaking putts which are not easy to read.

If four pars are needed that is what should be expected. Birdies cannot really be made on the last four to six holes. Holes 13 and 16 are short for a major championship but they are tricky and it is easy to lose concentration.

The job is not finished with a one shot lead going up the last - there is still work to be done.