BRITISH OPEN COUNTDOWN:All eyes are on Tiger Woods, but, as usual, he is unfazed by it all. Seeking to become the first player since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the first three legs of the Grand Slam, the world's number one walked into the media centre yesterday for his one and only pre-championship conference and effortlessly fielded questions on equality, racial discrimination and, of course, golf. Philip Reid reports.

It is four weeks since Woods last played a competitive round of golf. That was the final round of the US Open at Bethpage - he won, of course - but if anyone believes the length of time away from the course could be a factor, then the player disagrees.

"I took off three weeks before the PGA championship in 1999 and won," he replied to any doubters in the audience.

"My practice rounds have gone very well and I am pleased with the way I am hitting the golf ball right now. I don't foresee it to be a problem."

As he continues the quest to be the first player to win the Grand Slam in the same calendar year - his so-called "Tiger Slam" was spread over two seasons - Woods insisted that the course here at Muirfield would provide him with the sort of challenge he relishes.

"It is one of the most fair courses that you will play. There's only one blind shot, otherwise everything is right there in front of you. There is no hidden agendas, no tricks or anything like that. It is one of those golf courses that is very fair and says 'come and get me'.

"I love links golf. I think it is more fun than any other golf we play because you get the chance to be creative, to hit shots and run the ball on the ground.

"A lot of the time yardages are just thrown out the door. You have to create a shot, see a shot and hit it and play so much by feel.

"We don't get the chance to do that in the United States. If you have got 164 yards, you have fly it 164 yards.

"Here you can fly it 120 yards if you want to and scoot it on back there, or hit a two-iron 300 yards because it can run along the ground."