Tiger Woods has said that he is looking forward to the Open, his "favourite major championship".
The 36-year-old has won the Claret Jug on three occasions, with his last triumph on the links courses of the UK coming in 2006.
Speaking of the Open, Woods wrote on his blog: "You can have so many different weather conditions. You just don't know.
"That's one of the unique things about the British Open and why it's my favourite major championship.
"It's the only tournament besides the sandbelt courses in Australia that we can actually use the ground as a friend and bounce the ball into the greens. Modern golf is all up in the air."
Woods, who is chasing Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 Major wins, enters the third of the year in good form having won four times in the last eight months.
However, the 14-time Major champion missed the cut in his last tournament at the Greenbrier Classic.
"Now I'm focused on the British Open," he added. "This will be my third visit to Royal Lytham and St Annes, where I tied for 22nd in 1996 and tied for 25th in 2001.
"I like the golf course, but I know they have made some changes since we played there. I think they lengthened a few holes, so it will play different.
"Plus in '01 it was pretty dry and firm. They've had a very wet summer, as we saw at Wimbledon, and the golf course is pretty soft. Weather plays such a huge role in the tournament. It will be interesting to see how the course is set up."
The Open begins early on Thursday in Lancashire.
Pascal Lemesre
