Woods pleased with form

Woods: pleased with comeback

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World number one Tiger Woods admits he has been pleasantly surprised by his form since returning from injury.

Woods has already won three times in nine starts having returned to action following reconstructive knee surgery in March.

This week at Turnberry he goes in search of major title number 15 at the Open Championship - and a first since his return from that surgery.

The American finished tied for sixth at both the Masters and last month's US Open, but claims he has been pleased with his efforts this season.

"I've put myself in position to win the first two majors, I just haven't done it," he explained.

"But realistically looking at my situation at the beginning of the year, to have three wins... I wouldn't have thought that."

Woods goes in search of a fourth Open victory at Turnberry, but has never previously played the Ayrshire links lay-out.

His Open debut came back in 1995 at St Andrews, a year after the tournament last visited Turnberry in 1994.

However, he is highly impressed with the course, adding: "Well the golf course is fantastic, it's in great shape.

"The rough is up a little bit, we haven't had the big winds yet and we'll see how the weather holds out, but all in all it's a fabulous golf course."

Harrington warning

Meanwhile, defending champion Padraig Harrington had words of warning about the course, insisting that accuracy off the tee would go a long way to deciding the eventual winner.

"The guy who drives it well this week has a big advantage, much more of an advantage this week than on any links golf course I've seen in a long time," Harrington stated.

"You know if you hit a wide one here off the tee you're going to struggle to get back on the fairway."

Pressure

Harrington, who goes in search of an Open hat-trick this week after his wins at Carnoustie and Birkdale, went on to acknowledge that his previous success has heaped added pressure on his preparations for this year's showpiece.

"Obviously I'm going for three in a row so the spotlight is on me and that has made it... well it's not made it harder, but it has made it more high-profile," he continued.

"It's probably a little harder when it's as high-profile, it's not as easy to do your own thing and just work away at it.

"But going forward I'm going to be a better player and that's all that counts to me."