THE British Open is over for another year, but it was still the main topic of conversation when the 1995 champion John Daly and fellow American Scott Hoch joined a strong European line up for the Sun Dutch Open starting in Hilversum today.

Hoch reacted vigorously to criticism by fellow Americans Davis Love and Brad Faxon of his decision not to play at Lytham, describing their comments as "asinine".

But the main topic among the Europeans was the decision by the Royal and Ancient to dispense with the "10 shot" rule at the Open. Under the old system, David Feherty and Philip Walton, who both shot a two over par 144, would have qualified for the final 36 holes because they were within 10 strokes of joint leaders Paul McGinley and eventual champion Tom Lehman at the halfway mark.

But this year the R and A decided to dispense with this regulation for a variety of reasons, having been forced to dig deep into their coffers to find extra prize money at Royal Barkdale in 1991 when over 100 players came into that category.

The organisers also had the recent example of the US Open at Oakland Hills, where 114 players within 10 shots of the leader went through to the third round. Lasts week, 77, including ties for 65th place, went through to the final two rounds, but it would have been 86 if the 10 stroke rule had been in force.

Feherty is among those who feel it should never have been rescinded. "I am appalled to hear that the USGA are thinking of doing the same thing," he said. "It seems it is being done on the grounds of economy, but it is not in the interest of the players.

Lou Graham won the US Open from 10 behind, and Curtis Strange almost won the US Masters after starting with an 80. The R and A are fond of tradition, except when it suits them. But this is not the fort of area where any compromises should be made."

Walton agreed, and suggested it might have been a very different story at Lytham if the wind had. really blown over the last 36 holes. "I cannot understand why the R and A should do a thing like that," he said. "They are making millions from the Open, so to dig into their coffers and come up with another £5,000 each for possibly another 20 players making the cut would not break the bank."

Both Ryder Cup players hope to make up for lost income this week, but money and links golf are not high on Hoch's agenda. In fact, he would be happy if he never saw another links course.

His dislike of seaside golf and the element of fortune involved were, he insisted, behind his decision to withdraw from Lytham, and so incur the wrath of Love and Faxon, two members of the US Tour policy board.

Hoch was incensed that they suggested that a player of his calibre who did not play in all tour majors should be barred from representing the USA in the Ryder Cup or President's Cup". against the Rest of the World.

"Their statements were asinine and they were talking without thinking," he said yesterday. "I have played twice in the Open, both times at St Andrews, and to me that is not a golf course. My philosophy of golf is that I like to hit good shots and be rewarded, and if I hit bad shots to be penalised for it. On those courses it is not the case."

Hoch prefers his courses to have trees and narrow fairways like wooded Hilversum, where he won by two strokes last year over a field that included Daly and tap Europeans Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance.

Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington get an early chance to test their effectiveness as Ireland's new World Cup combination when they play together in the first two rounds.

Eamonn Darcy, Des Smyth, David Higgins and Francis Howley also have eyes on a prize fund of £650,000, offering a top award of £108,330.