Garcia hopes to ride Spanish wave to title

Sergio Garcia is looking to add another victory to what has already been a memorable summer for Spanish sports.

The country's soccer team claimed its first major international title in 44 years, capturing the European championship, then Rafael Nadal ended Roger Federer's five-year winning streak at Wimbledon in an epic final match.

Garcia is generally recognized as the best player never to win a major golf championship, a distinction he hopes to erase at Royal Birkdale.

"If I manage to win here, it'll be something," Garcia said. "It'll be a very good summer for Spain. But it's not going to be easy."

If he does manage to win the British Open, which victory would be more revered in his homeland?

"Without a question, the football," Garcia said quickly. "In Spain, football is the biggest."

Furyk on Britain

Jim Furyk never lacks an opinion, no matter the subject.

So, what's his take on Britain?

"I'd probably have to say that the tea is highly overrated -- and the beer is highly underrated," Furyk quipped.

He doesn't mind driving on the left side of the road, but he's still trying to figure out the car-rental business on this side of the Atlantic.

"Renting a car here could be the most difficult thing of the entire trip," Furyk said. "It sounds like it's going to cost like 200 to 300 pounds, and by the time you're done it's like half the mortgage on your house. And then you get a call like six months later that you still owe them money. I try to avoid renting cars at all costs over here."

First off

Craig Parry will need to leave an early wake-up call Thursday.

The Australian gets to hit the first shot of the tournament at 6:30 a.m., leading off a group that also includes American Lucas Glover and England's Simon Dyson.

While no one can predict the weather, especially in Britain, Parry figures he's got a better chance of getting in at least a couple of hours in decent conditions with the early tee time.

"It's a real distinction to be teeing off first in a British Open," he said.