Ballesteros invited to play in British Open celebration

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ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- Seve Ballesteros is among 32 former British Open champions invited to play four holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews the day before next year's 150th anniversary tournament.

The Royal and Ancient invited champions to play the first, second, 17th and 18th holes at the Old Course on July 14.

Ballesteros is still recovering from a brain tumor. But R&A director of championships David Hill said Monday that he hopes "the majority of our former champions will accept the invitation."

The BBC will broadcast the two-hour Open Champions' Challenge and the winners will receive prize money for a charity of their choice.

A similar event in 2000 featured 22 former champions and raised more than $65,000.