Two who have the one drive

One of them they call "the Goose", the other is affectionately known as "the Great Dane". One has a major title in his hands, the other would love to have one.

And listening to Retief Goosen and Thomas Bjorn speak here at Royal Lytham & St Annes about their prospects in the 130th British Open, and how they must conquer a course set up to punish errant drivers, it was striking how similar are the two mindsets.

For instance, both believe in their chances this week; and both know that the course will bite. "The bunkers have been deepened and the rough is so punishing . . . you will be lucky sometimes to get it back on to the fairway," remarked Goosen, while Bjorn observed: "The rough is probably as severe as it was at Carnoustie and the guy that plays the best golf this week will win. If you start playing not too good out here, you are going to be in big trouble."

Bjorn's self-belief that he has the game to stay out of that trouble and actually win the claret jug stems from his runners-up position behind Woods at St Andrews last year, and also from looking at Goosen and seeing what he has achieved.

Life has changed for Goosen since he won the US Open in Tulsa last month. On his return to competition in the Smurfit European Open two weeks ago, he joked that his right hand was sore from so many handshakes; yesterday he found it difficult to get to the next tee "without having to sign a hundred autographs".

But Bjorn, for one, wasn't surprised by the South African's success - and would like to emulate it. "Retief's win came as a shock for the rest of the world, except for the guys who play on the European Tour. We knew what he is capable of. And it showed the guys that play in Europe, well, this is a player we compete with every week, he can go out and do it and there is no need for the rest of us not to go out and do the same," argued Bjorn.

Now Denmark's most famous golfing son would like to join Goosen as a major winner. "I need to do more things worldwide and in majors. I have beaten myself in the past and know that I can be my own worst enemy on the golf course. But I have become a much more complete golfer over the past 12 months and I realise that perfect golf is not something you need to do to win tournaments. You need to get the ball in the hole and, now, I really focus hard on getting round in the best score."

Similarly, Goosen has succeeded in doing that of late. In his last four outings, he hasn't finished out of the top six and has managed to win two of them, the US Open and last weekend's Scottish Open.

"I know that I can play under pressure and I see myself having more chances in the other majors now than I did before. I know I have some pressure on me this week, but maybe that is a good thing. I have not got it in my mind that I have to win this week. I am coming to play well, and if I play well enough to win by the end of the week, then that will be great."

How do you win? "By hitting the fairways and staying out of the bunkers," said Goosen. Both men agree that will be the hard part!