Woods’ strategy of 2006 may well be a blueprint for success this year, provided conditions are hot and dry. Still, players will need to execute the plan to near-perfection if they hope to be in contention on the back nine on Sunday. That, and they will need a fair dollop of luck.
If Tiger makes it - and at the time of press the chances are good - he will need to summon up amazing powers of recovery to stave off challenges from some of the biggest names in the game. Mickelson, of course, will be desperate to hang on to his crown. Adam Scott is another strong contender. The Australian claimed the world number one spot in May this year and strengthened his ranking with a victory at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial later that month. Equally determined to continue his recent momentum will be Martin Kaymer. The German went through something of a slump after losing his world number one ranking in 2011, but has stormed back to form - winning both The Players Championship and the US Open.
Golf is notoriously difficult to predict, however, and any number of players from the talented American Rickie Fowler to Brits Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose may have a big part to play over the course of the four days.
They say that familiarity breeds contempt, and that can be true of some of the identikit courses that professionals play week-in, week out on the big money circuits. However, even after over a century and a half of play, the Open Championship still feels as fresh as ever.
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