Hoylake ready for a new chapter

The first British Open to be staged at Hoylake in 39 years provides an apt setting for defending champion Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els to start fresh chapters in their golfing careers.

Woods hunts his first major title since the death of his father Earl, Mickelson wants to banish memories of his final-hole meltdown at last month's U.S. Open and Els is determined to shake off a loss of form following a knee injury last year.

Tournament favourite Woods, bidding to lift the Claret Jug for the third time, has played only two tournaments over the last three months.

Although the world number one missed his first cut as a professional in a major at last month's U.S. Open, he proved he is ready for Hoylake by tying for second at the Western Open two weeks ago.

"I feel like I'm back into playing again after taking such a long time off prior to the U.S. Open," said Woods, who took a nine-week break after the Masters in April to deal with the illness and death of his father.

"I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I wanted to in competition, plus it's the hardest U.S. Open venue we've ever played and that made it really difficult," added the 30-year-old American, referring to Winged Foot in New York.

"But I fixed those mistakes prior to the Western Open and I got back into the competitive flow again."

The 10-times major champion, who won last year's British Open at St. Andrews by five strokes, says he has come to terms with the death of his father on May 3.

"There's not a day that I don't think I'll ever go through life without thinking about my Dad," he said.

"I love him dearly. The bond that we've had, you know, I think it transcended just a normal parent-child relationship."

Earl had suffered from prostate cancer since 1998.

Masters champion Mickelson, still bruised after his double-bogey six on the 72nd hole at Winged Foot, feels he is ready to win his first British Open.

Known for his meticulous preparation for the majors, the American left-hander made his first trip to Hoylake the weekend after the U.S. Open and returned for extended practice late last week.

"I don't want to say you're ever completely knowledgeable because that's not the case," Mickelson said. "But on Sunday I finished all the requirements that we go through."

Over the last two years he has made a habit of plotting out his major game plan in consultation with his caddie Jim Mackay, swing coach Rick Smith and short game coach Dave Peltz.

"I feel it's important to go to the golf course and see the nuances, but you still have to execute," added Mickelson.

"My execution at the U.S. Open was horrific and execution is going to be critical here at Hoylake because the penalty is so great."

The world number two had been chasing a third consecutive major title at Winged Foot before squandering a two-shot lead with three holes to play in the closing round.

South African Els, the 2002 champion at Muirfield, is fully recovered from the injury that left him sidelined for four months at the end of last season.

"It's been almost a year now since I hurt it and it has taken quite a while but it feels good," said the three-times major winner, who twisted his knee on a family sailing holiday.

"Now it's just a matter of time before I do something good again. I feel confident about my abilities. I think I'm on the right track again."

Weeks of unrelenting sunshine in Britain have left the par-72 Royal Liverpool layout parched, rock-hard and fast-running.

Britain's Colin Montgomerie, a veteran of 15 Opens and runner-up behind Woods at St Andrews last year, says he has never seen a venue so dry.

Although some rain is expected over the next four days it is unlikely to take much sting out of a fiery links course staging the world's oldest major championship for the first time since Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo triumphed in 1967.