Muirfield wide open for Tiger

British Open Championshipcontenders beware, Tiger Woods could be having a Hoylake moment here at Muirfield.

Restored to his No 1 position in the world rankings and back in the groove with four wins on the PGA Tour already this season, the reasons to install the 14-time Major champion as favourite for the 2013 British Open, which begins here tomorrow, are plentiful and obvious, not least the condition of this links course running flat alongside the Firth of Forth.

For the first time in seven years, the keepers of the Auld Claret Jug are preparing an Open examination on a layout that is sun-burned, rock hard and long running, all of which bodes well for Woods, the man who won at Hoylake — or Royal Liverpool to go by its official title.