THE FACTS

* What: 129th British Open golf championship.

* When: Today through Sunday.

* Defending champion: Paul Lawrie.

* Site: The Old Course at St. Andrews.

* Length: 7,115 yards.

* Par: 36-36--72.

* Format: 72 holes (18 daily) stroke play.

* Playoff, if necessary: Four holes, stroke play.

* Purse: 2.75 million British pounds (approximately $4.4 million).

* Winners share: 500,000 British pounds (approximately $800,000).

* Last year: At Carnoustie, Paul Lawrie staged the greatest comeback in major championship history--10 strokes--but only after an unforgettable collapse by Jean Van de Velde. The Frenchman led by three strokes going to the 72nd hole, but took triple bogey with a series of bizarre shots to finish at 6-over 290 with Lawrie and Justin Leonard. Lawrie birdied the last two holes in the playoff to win by three strokes.

* Open champions at St. Andrews: Tom Kidd (1873), Bob Martin (1876, 1885), Jamie Anderson (1879), Robert Ferguson (1882), Jack Burns (1888), Hugh Kirkaldy (1891), J.H. Taylor (1895, 1900), James Braid (1905, 1910), Jock Hutchison (1921), Bobby Jones (1927), Denny Shute (1933), Dick Burton (1939), Sam Snead (1946), Peter Thomson (1955), Bobby Locke (1957), Kel Nagle (1960), Tony Lema (1964), Jack Nicklaus (1970, 1978), Seve Ballesteros (1984), Nick Faldo (1990), John Daly (1995).

* Open champions in the field: Seve Ballesteros (1979, 1984, 1988), Mark Calcavecchia (1989), Bob Charles (1963), John Daly (1995), Nick Faldo (1987, 1990, 1992), Paul Lawrie (1999), Tom Lehman (1996), Justin Leonard (1996), Sandy Lyle (1985), Jack Nicklaus (1966, 1970, 1978), Mark O’Meara (1998), Gary Player (1974, 1968, 1959), Nick Price (1994), Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983).

ON TELEVISION

* Today: ESPN--5-11 a.m. (live); 4-7 p.m. (three-hour version of morning coverage).

* Friday: ESPN--5-11 a.m. (live); 4-6:30 p.m. (2 1/2-hour version of morning coverage) 6-6:30 p.m. (highlights).

* Saturday: Channel 7--7-11:30 a.m. (live).

* Sunday: Channel 7--6-10:30 a.m. (live); 2-3 p.m. (wrapup). ESPN2-9-9:30 p.m. (highlights).

* Monday: ESPN--9-9:30 p.m. (highlights).

*

THE CREW

* Co-hosts: Mike Tirico and Jim McKay.

* Lead commentator: Curtis Strange.

* On-course commentators: Peter Allis, Steve Melnyk, and Ian Baker-Finch.

* On-course roving reporters: Bob Rosburg, Gary Smith and Judy Rankin.

* Editorial advisor: Frank Hannigan, who will handle rules inquiries.

* Note: Karl Ravech will handle interviews during ESPN’s early-round coverage and be joined by analyst Andy North and reorter Scott Walker on ESPN’s highlight shows.

*

PROGRAM NOTES

* The Golf Channel has more than 50 hours of coverage, including nightly specials at 6 p.m. on the history of the British Open, provided by the Royal and Ancient library collection.

* A one-hour ABC special, “100 Years of the British Open,” with Jim McKay as host, will be on Channel 7 following Saturday’s coverage at approximately 11:30 a.m.

* An exhibition featuring 27 British Open champions, from 1946 winner Sam Snead to last year’s Paul Lawrie, was played on the first, second, 17th and 18th holes at the Old Course Wednesday. ESPN Classic will show a 90-minute special on the event Sunday at 4:30 p.m.