PATIENCE, accuracy and the ability to improvise are the over-riding qualities which will be required by golf's superstars at this week's 122nd British Open Championship.
Capricious winds, uneven bounces and blind tee shots combine to make the 6,860-yard, par-70 links layout at Royal St George's in the southern English county of Kent the most demanding course on the Open roster.
''It's the toughest course, purely from the conditions,'' said England's Nick Faldo, the world number one who won his third Open crown at Muirfield last year and is the favourite of the bookies again this time.
So meticulous is Faldo in his preparations for the major championships that he arrived at the course last week straight from his timely play-off triumph in the Irish Open rather than take part in the Scottish Open.
Faldo does not believe in leaving anything to chance. He said: ''I am playing the course in as many different winds as possible. It is very firm, and key factors are going to be the wind and coping with the bounces . . . trying to get a feel for them and shape the shots to suit the weather conditions.
''You need an awful lot of imagination on the course, different shots to work the ball. Be delighted to get on the green most of the time. It's going to be tough keeping it going and you'll have to be very patient.'' Such is the unpredictability of the winds and the bounces that Faldo is not alone in believing that the winning 72-hole total may well be above par.