THE SIDELINES : Britain Tends to Tee Him Off

Doug Sanders celebrated his 56th birthday today by losing his golf clubs en route to the British Seniors tournament.

The American lost all his luggage on the flight to Britain. He had to buy new shoes and shirts, wear a sweater given him by his wife and borrow clubs from the local assistant pro to play in today’s pro-am.

Sanders does not have a lot of luck in Britain.

In 1970, he lost the British Open to Jack Nicklaus in a playoff after missing a three-foot putt on the final hole at St. Andrew’s.

“That missed putt was probably the most expensive in the history of the game,” he said.

Sanders also was runner-up to Nicklaus in the 1966 Open.