Back in the hunt, it could be Tiger time again

After three years away from The Open due to a series of back surgeries, Tiger Woods really could not have picked a better time to make his return to the game’s oldest championship.

The three-time champion, now 42, last collected the Claret Jug in 2006, a dozen years ago, and his triumph at Hoylake in that red-hot summer was in firm and fast conditions that look set to be replicated on the dried out links here at Carnoustie.