Immelman: Looking to do Masters-Open double at Royal Birkdale
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Trevor Immelman feels playing at Royal Birkdale will be the biggest challenge of his golf career as he looks to do the Masters-Open double this week.
The South African knows he faces a tall order to claim his second Major of the 2008 season in tough conditions at the links course.
Strong winds gusting up to 25mph have made life difficult for the players at practice and are set to continue for the opening round on Thursday.
Immelman - who finished 65th in the US Open after his success at Augusta - is just hoping he can play well enough to be on the right side of the cut.
Challenging
"This is the most challenging course I have played on," he admitted.
"And this wind will surely blow away most of the field. If I can get to the weekend, and if I am in with a chance, that's when I will be comfortable with the situation.
"Whoever wins the Open will be deserving. That's for sure."
Immelman is used to challenges in his life. He had a benign tumour removed from his diaphragm at the end of 2007 that left him fearing he may never compete in another Major.
However, the 28-year-old from Cape Town battled back to full fitness and achieved his lifelong dream when he triumphed at the Masters.
Overwhelming
Since then Immelman, who now leaves the green jacket at home rather than take it with him wherever he goes, has struggled for form and he confesses he has only just come to grips with what he achieved.
"I had golf on my mind 24/7 from the age of five," he said. "It consumed me - all I wanted to do was win major championships.
"When I was diagnosed I thought maybe I wouldn't be able to play any more majors. Then I won the next one I played in and achieved my lifelong dream.
"It was totally overwhelming and I went AWOL for a couple of months."
