Is The Open the pick of the Majors?

The Open is the oldest championship in the world and is the event that all the players want to win.

Five-time winner Tom Watson once described it as "the ultimate test".

Now in its 129th year and fittingly back at St Andrews for the first Open of the Millennium is it the finest tournament on the golfing circuit?

Certainly no other tournament can match it for history, but is that enough?

Courses such as St Andrews and Carnoustie and their unique climatic conditions can fully expose any weakness in a player's armourey.

Where else would you witness the type of dramas that have befallen Jean van de Velde in 1999 and Constantino Rocca in 1995?

However does it lack the glamour of the US Open and the Masters? And could that be the reason why on many occasions a number of the major contenders from across the Atlantic have chosen to pass it by?

How much has their absence devalued its standing?

Do the ever-changing conditions make it more of a lottery than a test of skill, when tee-off times can play a massive part in deciding the outcome?

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The Open is the most natural of Golf events: it is played over the courses where the game was invented, and in natural conditions - none of this `painted grass` or `dyed water` nonsense. Last year Duval claimed that several things about Carnoustie were unfair, such as the `clumpy` rough. That's how grass grows, it doesn't grow uniformly at the same height, standing straight up. The Open is the greatest championship in Golf simply because it is the championship that started championship Golf; Golfers are tested not on their ability to drive the ball 360 yards from every tee. For the sake of keeping professional Golf in a state of true competition and testing, the Open should be considered as the championship to win. We should start playing Ryder Cup's over Links courses again. The Belfry is simply too dull, and plays right into the Americans hands.
Andrew Jameson, Scotland

The British open is the ultimate tset of golf doe all golfers, simply because of its variety of courses and the requirement to find all the shots in the game. Golfers from the USA who do not come appear frightened to be exposed to the exposure the courses may show in their game. The US courses are too set up to their pitch and putt type of golf.
Robert Fotheringham, Scotland

It's the greatest test. You have the best field worldwide it has the conditions of sea side golf on all the venues which gives it more drama than the artificially tough US open and its penal rough or ths USPGA or the sole venue of the Masters. Thats why the Open is a better and mor versatile test than than either The Masters or the US Open.
TAHIR ATHAR, FRANCE

I totally agree with Phil Stovers comments, although he should note tha there is no such thing as the 'British Open' it is THE Open. The reason why so many US golfers pass up the Open is because it isn't held on a plastic fake well groomed golfing by numbers course like many of the American courses are these days. I, for one, think that we should start playing the Ryder Cup on our open links courses to give us the same type of advantage the Americans have at home instead of catering to their usual conditions by playing it at American style courses such as the Belfry.
Iain Lister, UK

In my opinion the British Open ranks right up there with the Masters and US Open. Each has distinguishing qualities which makes them unique. What makes the British exciting is that, besides the history, it forces players to showcase shots which are not required or seen in the other Majors. Any player from this side of the Atlantic that passes up on the British because they don't think it stands up to the other Majors clearly doesn't have their priorities in order. If there's any Major that falls behind the others, it's the PGA, not the British.
Phil Stover, USA