I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane

2006: John Senden ... (-2) T35 at the British, including a hole-in-one

2005: Sean O'Hair ... (-5) T15 at the British

2003: Vijay Singh ... (E) T2 at the British

1998: Steve Jones ...(+17) T57 at the British

Will the trend continue again this year?

It's pretty remarkable considering the jet lag. How are these players even able to lag their birdie putts close to the hole when they get there? Just being able to play is a better recovery than a par from a pot bunker.

To get an idea of how little time there is to prepare, this is how Senden (in photo after last year's win) replied to a post-John Deere interview question last year about his plans for the Open.

Q. Are you ready for the British? What kind of preparations do you have to make? Get a plane ticket?

Senden: Get on a jet first. I mean, I am not sure exactly what time flights leave at this point. Probably get a day and a half of preparation to go. Probably won't get there until Tuesday.

O'Hair was a scrambling man too in 2005. Gary D'Amato's article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explains that with the help of two U.S. Senators, O'Hair was able to get a passport issued just in the Nick-laus of time.

-- Jeff Patterson