Mayfair happy he is on course

Billy Mayfair isn't your typical professional golfer. In fact, he's unorthodox in most things. His putting, for instance, would put the heart crossways in a 24-handicapper, let alone his fellow tour players, and most probably leave anyone who attempted to imitate him in need of psychiatric help.

And, back in 1994, when he married Tammy McIntire, the ceremony was conducted on the 18th green at the TPC at Las Colinas prior to the Byron Nelson Classic. "If we're going to be spending the rest of our lives on golf courses," he explained, "we thought we might as well get married on one." Mayfair the unconventional.

So, at a time when many of his US Tour colleagues are fine-tuning for next week's British Open on a variety of Ireland's finest links courses - Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Lee Janzen, David Duval, Payne Stewart, Tom Watson et al - Mayfair has decided to play on an American-style course in the middle of Scotland. Why?

"I know the course is nothing like a British Open course, but I feel the best way to prepare for a major is to play in a tournament. When you get out there, it's a bit like walking down the fairway at Muirfield Village (in Ohio) or somewhere, but there is nowhere prettier in the world than this course, and it is challenging too. I believe this is a good way to tune-up for Carnoustie," said Mayfair.

"Tiger and some other players are coming over early to play links courses and to get adjusted. You can play all the practice rounds you want, but a tournament itself is how you really find out about yourself. Once I get out there (at Carnoustie), I'll get used to all those bump and runs and such shots."

A two-time winner on the US Tour last year, William Fred Mayfair hasn't enjoyed a good 1999. "It's been something of a roller-coaster year," admitted Mayfair, and, now down to 23rd in the American Ryder Cup standings, the chance of facing Europe in Brookline, Massachusetts, is looking a more remote possibility. "I'd love to make the team, but a major win is what I'm really chasing.

"Winning majors is a stepping stone. You've got to put yourself into position as many times as you possibly can, and the more times you do that, then sooner or later you're going to win one."

Mayfair's eyes dance with enthusiasm. The game is there to be played and enjoyed, and that's why Sergio Garcia's win in the Irish Open excited him so much.

"The kid's got the whole package," he said of the Spanish teenager. "I'm sure he's going to win a lot of majors in his day."

He may not have won on the US Tour this season, but Mayfair has earned $524,939 on home soil. Unorthodox putting technique or not, it works; and he's now part of the big time. The decision not to follow his American colleagues to sample links golf in a non-competitive environment is one he claims he is happy to have taken.

Whether or not Mayfair's approach works remains to be seen, but the 32-year-old - who finished tied-10th in the US Open last month - hopes that he won't need the box of cashmere sweaters and raingear that he had sent across to Scotland ahead of him.

Perhaps not in Loch Lomond, if the good weather continues, but it is a safe bet he'll need it on the eastern coast next week.