Lack of preperation doesn't worry Tiger

Tiger Woods is not worried about a lack of preparation which could scupper his attempt to complete the first professional Grand Slam in a calendar year.

Woods will be playing his first competitive golf in a month at next week's Open Championship, having been laid low with a flu-like illness since winning last month's US Open.

But the hot favourite does not fear that his enforced break will leave him short of practice.

"I took off three weeks before the (US) PGA Championship in 1999 and won," he told his official website.

"In 1997, I took four weeks off after winning the US Masters and won the Byron Nelson. I've won different ways."

The reigning Masters champion became only the fifth player to win the first two Majors of the season with his US Open triumph at Bethpage State Park's Black Course.

And the world number one is looking forward to the challenge of playing at Muirfield in the 131st Open which runs from 18-21 July.

"Going over there (to Britain), it's totally different golf," he said.

"It's not like you can play and prepare the same way over here."

Woods, champion in 2000 at St Andrews, has studied videos of previous Opens at Muirfield to know what to expect - although he admits the unpredictable British weather could pose problems.

"They've had a very wet summer and the rough will be a lot more lush," he said.

If Woods wins at Muirfield, he can complete the single-season Grand Slam with victory at next month's US PGA Championship.

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