GED FUREY is setting his sights on qualification for the British Open this summer.

The Pleasington professional, who qualified for 'the biggest tournament in the world' back in 1998, names playing in the Open as one his top priorities for 2001.

"Obviously it is a big ambition of mine. It will be something all professionals will want to do and I am no different. Everyone will be trying their luck at qualifying just in case they are on form over the three days and pull it off," he said.

"It is the biggest tournament in the world and with it being so local at Lytham & St Annes it makes it even more appealing."

Reaching peak form in the qualifying rounds is massively important but Furey reckons luck has little to do with it.

"It is a little bit of luck but it is form really, although I do think form evens itself out over those three rounds.

"I won the first stage of qualifying last year but couldn't get through the final stage but I qualified for the Open back in 1998, when it was at Lytham like this year, so I hope that's a good omen."

Also on the agenda for Furey this summer is the Club Professional Championships in Ireland which starts on June 12 and the Leeds Cup, which Furey won in 1997, at Oulton Park.

"I will definitely be trying to win that again," he said of the Leeds Cup. "It's on in between the regional and the second qualifying rounds of the Open. The regionals start on the Monday, the Leeds Cup is on the Tuesday all week and then the Open qualifying starts again on the Sunday, so the two competitions don't clash."

Bad weather and the effects of the foot and mouth outbreak have seriously affected Furey's ability to keep up with his training over the Winter, but he says all pros are in the same boat.

"I have never known a winter like it," he said. "And it will definitely affect everyone's performances in the early part of the season.

"First we had the rain and then we've had the foot and mouth outbreak so some courses have been shut completely. Luckily, we have stayed open and hopefully we will remain open although we are bordering a couple of farms here at Pleasington. We are very worried.

"Some professionals have been able to go abroad if their commitments at their clubs have been cut by foot and mouth but I haven't been able to get away.

"I have been concentrating on members' teaching and running the shop."

Furey will also be competing on the Northern PGA Tour this year, where he finished 20th last season.

"I will also be looking to win the Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore this year because I won that last season," he said.