Faldo is on Tiger's tail

Faldo triumphed there again in 1992 when he overcame another American, John Cook, to have his name engraved on the Claret Jug for a third time following his win at St Andrews in 1990. Faldo, who will celebrate his 45th birthday on the morning of the first round on 18 July, said: "One of the great compliments I heard is that Tiger watched tapes of me playing St Andrews before going on and winning there in 2000.

"So I bet he has been watching tapes of me winning at Muirfield. Let's see if he has worked out the secret. I know what it is but I ain't going to tell him!"

Faldo failed to qualify for the US Open by right, and he was able to extend his record run of consecutive majors to 60 only thanks to a special invitation from the United States Golf Association.

But he repaid their kindness with interest by coping manfully with a Bethpage course that destroyed so many others, including reigning Open champion David Duval, who failed to make the cut.

It was Faldo's best finish in a major since he came fourth behind Tom Lehman in the Lytham Open of 1996, and he admitted: "That has given me a real big boost.

"I've changed a few things in the last month, a little bit on my swing, a little bit on strengthening, diet, my mental set.

"It has given me a real boost to work hard for the next month so that when I get to Muirfield . . . well, you never know. I obviously love the place and if I can play the wind shots the way I want to, I could have a hell of a week."

The kind of skill that could put Faldo on Tiger's tail next month was demonstrated on the par-three eighth hole here on Sunday when his tee-shot came to rest at the bottom of 18 inches of clawing rough.

Faldo managed to salvage par to keep his round on track, and he said: "That was a serious up and down. That was shades of Muirfield. Fortunately, things like that kept me going. You need that otherwise this place would completely bury you."

Muirfield threatens to be more of the same. At 7,360 yards it is nearly 100 yards longer than when Faldo marched to victory 10 years ago. And the promise of swirling winds blowing in from the Firth of Forth will add to the difficulties.

Greg Norman knows a thing or two about winning Open Championships - the Australian veteran prevailed at Turnberry in 1986 and at Royal St George's seven years later - and he points to another factor that could test Woods to the limit of even his remarkable abilities.

Norman said: "Winning the Grand Slam will be an enormous task. You can't put odds on it.

"You win the first one, okay. You win the second and the pressure quadruples. Win the third and the pressure is just incredible.

"I know Tiger is good and I know he has got a strong mind, but it makes everybody want to gun for him more. It is going to be enormous pressure. Quite honestly, nobody has really thrown a good score at him in the last round of a major. No one's ever challenged him; stepped up to the plate. Nobody's shot a 65 or a 64 at him."

Come Muirfield, could Faldo be the man Norman is looking for?