Immelman braced for Birkdale test

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Winds have been gusting to 25mph at the course this week and are expected to be even stronger once the event is under way.

"You want it to be tough because that's going to sort out the best from the best and this is all you want," said the 28-year-old Immelman. "It's going to be a great test, especially with the forecast and the guy who wins is going to be very deserving. This media tent is about to blow away."

If that 'guy' is Immelman himself he will emulate the feat of Mark O'Meara, who pulled off the Masters-Open double 10 years ago and did so at Birkdale.

"That's definitely inspiration, but it's going to be a pretty tall order," he added. "Mark was a seriously accomplished player and had a pretty good record round this course [the American had won the 1987 Lawrence Batley International].

"It's very demanding off the tee because a lot of the drives are partially blind, there's not much intermediary rough and there are a lot of cross-winds."

Immelman admits that at first he found it hard to adjust to being Masters champion.

"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."