Sandy Lyle at the Open

Shropshire's Sandy Lyle began his British Seniors Open Championship quest today in the showcase group at Sunningdale.

Lyle was part of a trio of Open champions playing the first two rounds together, the Shrewsbury-born player accompanied by Tom Watson and Greg Norman.

Much attention is sure to fall on Watson over the next four days after he came within a whisker of an astonishing victory at the Open at Turnberry on Sunday at the age of 59.

Five-times Open champion found himself leading the Major throughout the week, only to bogey the 18th on the final day and subsequently lose a play-off to fellow American Stuart Cink.

Oswestry's Ian Woosnam was starting his bid for victory alongside another former Ryder Cup captain, Tom Lehman, and Argentina's Eduardo Romero.

And Hawkstone Park's Frank Kiddie, who qualified for his first senior Major earlier this week, will line up alongside Scotland's John Chillas and Shinji Ikeuchi for the first two rounds.

It's also a big week for Ludlow amateur Oliver Farr who lines up alongside the professionals on the Challenge Tour, the level below the main European Tour.

Farr is playing in the Swalec Wales Challenge at the Vale of Glamorgan.