Woods set to launch bid for third major of 2002

Tiger Woods launches his bid for a third successive major title of the year in the 131st British Open at Muirfield on Thursday.

The world number one, halfway towards completing the first professional grand slam of all four majors in a calendar season, tees off at 0801 GMT in the company of Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and England's Justin Rose.

Woods -- who became the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to clinch the first two majors of the year with his victory at last month's U.S. Open -- has been priced by British bookmaker William Hill as a red-hot 13-8 favourite to win come Sunday.

But par-71 Muirfield will provide his biggest test so far as the 26-year-old American chases his ninth career major and his eighth in 12 starts.

The Scottish layout is not overly long at 7,034 yards and, with the unpredictable weather and vagaries of bounce that characterises links-course golf, several players are quite capable of winning this week's championship.

"The shorter the course, the more players come into it," said twice U.S. Open champion Ernie Els.

"I feel there'll be a lot more players in this tournament this week than there were at Bethpage (for the 2002 U.S. Open). Muirfield's a very fair test of golf."

Woods had not seen the Scottish course before this week but has been suitably impressed after playing three successive practice rounds.

"I think it's great," he said. "It's one of the most fair golf courses we've played and it puts a two-iron right back in the game for me to run the ball out there.

'HIDDEN AGENDAS'

"It presents itself right in front of you, there are no hidden agendas, no tricks or anything like that. It's going to be a fun test this week."

Woods has not played since last month's U.S Open and had to withdraw from the Western Open a fortnight ago due to flu-like symptoms.

But he believes his game is in good enough shape for Muirfield.

"My practice rounds have gone well, I'm pleased with the way I'm hitting the golf ball right now and I don't foresee any problems," said the reigning U.S. Masters and U.S. Open champion.

The fact also remains that Woods, of current golfers, is by some distance the most thorough and disciplined in his preparation for a particular event on a particular course.

But the world number one, who cruised to victory by eight shots in the 2000 British Open at St Andrews, gave his rivals a glimmer of hope earlier this week when he said his game was not up to the remarkable standard he produced two years ago.

"This year hasn't been quite as good, although I've played well in the major championships," said Woods, who triumphed in the last three majors of 2000.

"That's what I wanted to do and I've been able to do that.

"I haven't hit the ball as close to the flags as consistently as I did in 2000. I was probably a little more aggressive because I felt a little better about hitting the ball close."

LENGTHENED LAYOUT

Par-71 Muirfield, which is staging its 15th British Open this week, has been lengthened by 64 yards since Nick Faldo's 1992 victory and the layout now measures 7,034 yards.

The par-three 13th has been extended from 159 to 191 yards while the par-three fourth hole has also been extended -- from 180 to 213 yards.

Waist-high fescue grass rough and plentiful bunkers are the course's trademark features and they are both difficult to avoid. There are 148 bunkers dotted around Muirfield, and most are fairly small with steep faces.

Defending champion David Duval, who hopes his return to links golf can revive his game after several months in the doldrums, believes Woods can be beaten this week.

"I think there are other players as talented as Tiger," said the Florida-based professional who has made only nine cuts from 16 U.S. Tour events this year.

"But I think he is mechanically sound as anybody, he works as hard as anybody and outthinks a lot of people.

"On the other hand, he didn't win at (Royal) Lytham last year and he didn't win at Southern Hills (which staged the 2001 U.S. Open).

"I think, if Tiger Woods is playing his best and if other players are playing their best, then I don't think there's as big a difference as everyone seems to think there is.

"I can win because I've done it before, because I have it in me -- and I know I have it in me."