The men who run the Open championship insisted today that it is not their intention to make the world's greatest golfers suffer at Carnoustie in July like they did in 1999.

"We are not seeking carnage," said Royal and Ancient Club chief executive Peter Dawson. "We are seeking an arena where the players can display their skills to the best effect."

But before anybody starts to think that this summer will see birdies and eagles galore on the Scottish links - dubbed "Car-nasty" eight years ago - there are still some chilling facts.

At 7,421 yards the course will play 60 yards longer than last time. That makes it the longest in Open history - just 24 yards shorter than Augusta was for the Masters a month ago and only 140 yards less than the major record set by Medinah for last year's US PGA championship.

"Carnoustie deserves its reputation as the toughest course we use," added Dawson and Martin Kippax, chairman of the championship committee, stated: "The players understand what Carnoustie is. Everybody knows what a severe test it is."

What is likely to reduce the number of criticisms in 10 weeks' time, though, is that the forecast of a hot summer and less than average rainfall should reduce the amount of rough.

In 1999 it was some of the fiercest ever seen, with the 156-strong field finishing the week an amazing 3,746 over par.

Jean Van de Velde's horrendous closing triple bogey seven - the drama for which the championship is most remembered for, of course - meant that the winning score of six over par was the highest in the Open since 1947 and the highest in any major since 1963.

Not surprisingly, Paul Lawrie did not mind one little bit. He was the one who capitalised on Van de Velde's self-destruction, winning a play-off which also featured American Justin Leonard.

But Tiger Woods shot 10 over par and yet still finished as high as 10th, while Sergio Garcia, who a month later was to run Woods so close at the US PGA, had rounds of 89 and 83 to crash out on 30 over par.

Compatriot Seve Ballesteros shot 80-86, two more former champions in Sandy Lyle and Tony Jacklin failed to break 80 in either round as well, defending champion Mark O'Meara opened with an 83, the same as Paul McGinley, Vijay Singh signed for an 84 on day two and first round leader Rod Pampling amazingly missed the cut when he followed up his level par 71 with an 86.