Tiger Woods ready for Open defence

The world number one hinted he is close to his best form by tying for second at last week's Western Open and he returns to the challenge of links course golf as reigning Open champion.

Last year at St Andrews, Woods delivered a masterful display on the famed Old Course, romping to a five-stroke victory and the 10th major title of his career.

He hardly put a foot wrong in the final round, firing a two-under-par 70 in breezy conditions to become only the second player, after Jack Nicklaus, to win each of the grand slam events at least twice.

Although clearly ring-rusty in last month's U.S. Open at Winged Foot where he missed his first cut as a professional in a major, he was back to his fist-pumping best last week at Cog Hill Golf in Lemont, Illinois.

"It was nice to feel the juices coming down the stretch where I had a chance," Woods told reporters after mounting a last-day charge with four birdies after the turn.

"It was good. I felt that rush. That's part of being an athlete, to feel that rush coming down the stretch.

"It's tough to have the nerves and control them and the adrenaline. It's a blast. It's actually a blast."

Asked whether he felt his game was primed for the British Open, Woods replied with a quizzical smile: "It's never where you want it to be. If it is, quit."

His words will certainly send a shiver or two down the spines of his rivals at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, north-west England.

The best player since Nicklaus has his game face on and is hungry for his third PGA Tour title of the year.

Woods was not quite ready for the heat of major battle at the U.S. Open, his first tournament since the Masters in April, after taking a nine-week break to deal with the illness and death of his father Earl.

One month on, though, he is certainly ready for next week's British Open, whatever he says about his game not being quite where he wants it to be.

Another player keen to start a fresh major chapter is Masters champion Phil Mickelson, still bruised after his final-hole meltdown at the U.S. Open.

The meticulous left-hander had been chasing a third consecutive major title at Winged Foot but squandered a two-shot lead with three holes to play in the closing round.

Erratic off the tee for most of the day, he hit another wild drive at the 18th on his way to a double-bogey six that dropped him one stroke behind winner Geoff Ogilvy of Australia.

"I'm not ever going to forget it, that's obvious," Mickelson said at last week's Western Open where he tied for 65th.

"But what I'm not going to do is let it affect negatively my performance in upcoming majors. I've got two more this year.

"I'm playing too well, and I've got a system of preparation that has been helping me play some of my best golf. Right now, I'm excited about the chances at Hoylake."

Mickelson, who won the PGA Championship at Baltusrol last August, made his first trip to Hoylake before the Western Open. He has returned there this week to become fully acquainted with the nuances of the course.

Careful preparation is a valuable asset in arguably the most `open' of the four majors, and particularly this year.

The par-72 layout, hosting the Open for the first time since Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo triumphed there in 1967, is one of the flattest and most exposed venues on the championship rota.

As always at a seaside links, the vagaries of the weather will play an important part in determining the winner, as well as a bit of good fortune when it comes to the bounce of the ball on the humps and bumps of the fairways.