Tiger's gale warning for Open field

Tiger Woods today warned that forecast gales could turn Royal Troon into a golfing terror for the 133rd Open Championship.

While rain is not forecast before the weekend, swirling high winds are expected on Thursday when the first round gets underway.

Woods has already experienced the effect the changeable conditions can have on the flight of the ball during practice rounds this week and he revealed: "If the wind is blowing like it did yesterday afternoon then I don't see many golf courses where they have tougher finishing holes.

"If it doesn't blow then the guys are going to shoot some good numbers. If it does blow, it presents quite a challenge."

The 28-year-old has bitter experience of the way the weather can wreck an Open challenge.

Woods was in contention at Muirfield two years ago, but the start of his third round coincided with the arrival of a storm that sent scores soaring.

Soaked, he returned a card of 10-over-par 81 and a brilliant 65 on the last day only brought him to within six shots of a play-off won by Ernie Els.