Its Westwood ho! as albatross flies in

Extract, Bill Elliot, The Observer, 28 September 2003

....Significantly, all but the last-named Frenchman moved into serious contention after playing Kingsbarns yesterday. This five-year-old course is probably the last great links to be allowed to be built in Britain, and despite its youth it is a worthy addition to the great links that embroider these islands. Designed by American architect Kyle Phillips, Kingsbarns faithfully follows the antediluvian contours of this coast which is framed by the Tay Estuary.

Visually stunning, it clearly inspires even the most jaded of players and although it perhaps lacks the length to be considered yet for the Open Championship rota of links examinations, this is a size problem that could be overcome easily enough. 'It is a fantastic-looking place,' agreed Ian Woosnam. 'Definitely, it's got the potential to host an Open.'

Certainly more punters chose to roll up there yesterday than at either Carnoustie or St Andrews, while the question of how many attend today's climax remains problematic for the organisers. So few have attended thus far that the spookily quiet atmosphere suggests Alfred Dunhill's co-sponsor might well be the British Library. If so, Lee Westwood would not notice, having once admitted to me that the last book he had started was Tootles The Taxi Driver .