GOLFER Luke Donald goes into this weekend's qualifying competition for The Open at Lytham St Anne's in the best form of his life.

The Beaconsfield Golf Club player, who comes from High Wycombe, set a new course record playing for England in the European Team Championships in Malmo last week.

Donald stunned the Swedes with his long and short game as he smashed the course record with a round of 63.

But his round was not a flash in the pan. He went throughout the whole week losing just once and that was on the 18th hole when he was beaten in his match against Iceland.

Donald has played at The Open for the last two years but failed to make the cut on either occasion.

Qualifying takes places on Sunday and Monday at the Fairhaven links course and one of Donald's former RGS school pals will be hoping to see him come good.

Simon Day placed a bet five years ago that Donald would win a major during the next ten years ago and stands to take the bookies to the cleaners if his mate delivers over the second half of the bet.

Robert Travis from Magnolia Park Golf Club will be bidding for a place in the finals of the PGA Maxfli Assistants' Championship at Farnham Golf Club next week.

Travis will join 70 other young golfers from the south aiming to qualify for the final which will take place at St Anne's, near Blackpool.