Yeah that's the downside. It's offset a bit by the smaller crowd. Monday is when they all arrive really. I usually do two practice days and a championship day - Friday, by choice.

I've managed to win a couple of hospitality packages at Hoylake and they were sensational. Easily the best way to do it. Would have cost an absolute fortune if it had been paid for. The second one (my mate won it and took me as his guest) was in the big double decker patrons pavilion alongside the 18th fairway. We were in the Mastercard suite and it felt like dying and going to heaven. Best day of my life. Free everything in the best surroundings. Sipping Vintage Bollinger on the balcony and watching the golf through binoculars and enjoying top notch scran at your leisure. A one-off, dream experience.