THE pressure is on this week as the world's top golfers compete for the prized Claret Jug at the 130th Open Championship.

With the Order of Merit rankings so crucial to the selection of this year's European Ryder Cup team, a great performance in The Open at Royal Lytham could mean the difference between standing on the tee or outside the ropes at The Belfry in September.

For the first time ever amateurs can now join the battle by entering Playontour, a new amateur national tournament with a fantasy dimension from The Sunday Times. With Playontour, golfers throughout the UK can effectively compete in The Open Championship and other European Tour tournaments and rate their own golfing skills against the likes of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Padraig Harrington.

Competitors will play rounds on their home course at times coinciding with European Tour Tournaments. As they submit their scores, these are calculated alongside the scores of the leading pros on the European Tour.

While the professionals are competing for Ryder Cup qualification, the top 50 Playontour Order of Merit winners will get an equally prestigious prize. Courtesy of South African Airways and Sun International, these top 50 golfers will compete in an expenses-paid, final at the Sun City resort in South Africa to determine The Sunday Times 2001 Playontour champion.

Competitors will be able to keep abreast of their progress in The Sunday Times, as well as monthly updates in Today's Golfer.

For an entry pack call 0870 900 8674 or enter online at www.sunday-times.co.uk/playontour