THE Benson & Hedges Interna-tional Open begins at The De Vere Belfry in just over a weeks time and, for Bradley Dredge, it represents the beginning of a tough month.

It precedes the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth, the Victor Chandler British Masters at Woburn and the English Open at the Forest of Arden.

So, this week, Dredge is missing the French Open to take a rest and put in some practice before taking on a course he considers to be one of the best in the country.

"The Belfry is a good course, they've made some improvements and every hole makes you think," said the Blackwood golfer. "Every hole is a driving hole, but you need to be on top of your game.

"It's a fair course. If you play well, there are chances to score, but you need to be sharp and right on top of your iron and short game.

"From what I've heard, the Belfry was a bit bland when it was first built, but they've made a lot of changes and it's now up their with Muirfield and Carnoustie as one of the top courses in the country."

Dredge has just returned from the Spanish Open in Gran Canaria. And, despite not finishing in the top ten, he felt he was still playing well.

"My putting was a bit off last week, the rest of my game was right on form, but in the end my putter let me down.

"So this week I'll put in some work on that and just get in some practice before the tournament next week."

Tiger Woods will be £700,000 richer if he can add another Open title to his collection of major honours this summer.

A £100,000 increase in the first prize was announced today as part of an overall 17.5 per cent increase in the purse to £3.8million.

It brings the Open virtually up to the level of the other three majors in America.