FOUR of the all time great golfers will return to Hoylake to play one last time for the Open Champions Classic on July 16.

Roberto de Vicenzo, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle and Sam Snead have all been winners of the British Open, which was last played at Hoylake in 1967 and will again battle it out over 18 holes.

To add spice to the competition, 87 year old 'Slammin Sam' Snead has announced that this will be his last ever competitive game.

Snead, born in Hot Springs, Virginia, is one of the games most successful players, winning 84 US PGA Tour Events and 165 pro events overall, including Open and Masters honours and Ryder cup success throughout the 50s and 60s.

Sandy Lyle will partner Snead, and at half Sneads age he also has an excellent list of honours.

These include Masters and Open champion and he is the winner of 29 European and US PGA tour events. He has also played for the Ryder cup team throughout the 80s.

Promoter Danny Goodman, a former Tour professional from the USA commented: "Sam's decision to retire makes this match very special indeed.

"Not only will we have Roberto, who is dear to the hearts of all those who watched him win here in 1967, but we have a living legend, in Sam, playing his final game.

"As if that is not enough, we also have two of Britains most popular players ever, in Tony Jacklin and Sandy Lyle, which makes it a unique and unforgettable occasion. What a feast for the crowds."

Spectators are limited for the event, as they will be able to walk on the fairway behind play.

Tickets are on sale from the Royal Liverpool Golf club, and are priced at £15 for personal applications or £17 for postal applications. All profits will be donated to Save the Children.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.