NOTEBOOK

ST. ANDREWS – Quietly at this week’s British Open, one of the best stories to emerge has been that of Brad Faxon, the popular veteran PGA Tour player who bleeds for the game.

Faxon, an accomplished golfer who probably never needs to make another dime in his career, grinded his way over to Scotland.

Then, he signed up for the qualifying stages to get into the Open.

He qualified over the weekend last week at nearby Lundin Links because he has a passion for links golf.

Today, Faxon will start his final round of the Open at 8-under-par, four shots behind leader Tiger Woods.

From there, he’ll try to win his first Open, his first major title.

“I feel good out there,” Faxon said. “Yeah, I imagined this [during qualifying]. I’m glad it’s true now. This is why I came over.

“It makes everything great to qualify the way I did and to play well in the first three rounds is remarkable.”

*

Another great story is that of Sean O’Hair, who scrambled over here after winning the John Deere Classic last weekend to qualify. O’Hair is 6-under entering today’s final round in this, his first major.

“I’m just trying to enjoy the moment, trying to soak up all the experiences this week,” O’Hair said. “It’s been crazy. It’s an honor being here. I’m playing great, but I haven’t gotten to enjoy it.”

O’Hair said he’s taking two weeks off after today to “let it all sink in.”

*

Tiger Woods on the difference between putting on the slower British Open greens and the slick Augusta National greens at the Masters: “Putting at Augusta, you want to leave your putter cover on.

“Here, you’ve got to lift weights to make sure you’re strong enough to hit putts that hard.”

If Woods wins today, he would become the second player in PGA Tour history to win each of the majors more than once, joining Jack Nicklaus.

He currently has four Masters, two U.S. Opens, two PGAs and one Open Championship to his credit.

Woods would also become the 25th player to have won the Open Championship more than once. He’s trying to become the eighth player to win the Masters and British Open in the same year.

The last to do it was Woods’ best friend, Mark O’Meara.

*

Nick Faldo, a three-time winner of the Open Championship, nearly couldn’t get off the mat to compete yesterday because of a stomach ailment.

He toughed it out ad shot a 2-under 70 to stand at 3-under for the week.

“Considering what was happening at 5:30 this morning, when my last night’s dinner decided to go south, I’m pleased,” Faldo said. “I felt lousy. I had to dig deep.” . . .

Michael Campbell is trying to become the seventh player to win the U.S. Open and Open Championship back-to-back.