Philip Reid at St Andrews

The allure of the Old Course is curiously bewitching.

The terrain is that of hillocks and mounds, of swales and hollows. But in its 83-acre expanse there are also 112 bunkers of all shapes and sizes and competitors in the 134th British Open, starting here this morning, know that at some stage the eventual champion will likely have to grapple with the unique challenge of the game's most wickedly constructed bunkers.

Unbelievably, Tiger Woods - on winning here in 2000 - didn't need a visit to any of the sand traps.

In the betting shops of this town, a repeat of that feat is on offer at no more than 12 to 1. They seem short odds, for the fact of the matter is that the bunkers are one of the Old Course's main defences and, more often than not, ultimately manage to catch out the golfer. This year, more than any other, those bunkers may be required to play a big part in preventing players destroying the links.

Otherwise, the unimaginable possibility of a sub-60 round, or even the prospect of a record-low 72-hole total - Woods set the previous mark of 19-under-par 269 - rears its head. With 48 of the world's top 50 in the field, there's certainly no shortage of quality to accomplish such deeds.

The other defences of the course are the wind (although there hasn't been much of that in recent, swelteringly hot days) and its large, undulating greens. If the wind doesn't blow, the likelihood is that flags will be positioned in cruel locations. But, on a course that has been lengthened by 164 yards, primarily with the aim of bringing obsolete bunkers back into play, it's those traps that may eventually decide a player's destiny.

"I think this week somebody is going to hit it in the bunker at some stage, a few times," said Darren Clarke, "and if you don't take it on the chin, chip it out and carry on from there, you're going to struggle and pay an even bigger penalty."

Without a doubt, Woods deserves to be the favourite. In this season's two opening majors, he won the Masters at Augusta and finished runner-up to Michael Campbell in the US Open at Pinehurst. Since then, Woods also finished second in the Western Open and spent last week sampling links golf in Ireland in preparation for a 10th major title, where Jack Nicklaus - the winner of a record 18 majors and playing in his 38th British Open in his 164th major - is retiring.

Intriguingly, Woods is also attempting to claim what is known as the "Jack Slam". When Nicklaus played his last US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000, Woods won. When the Golden Bear played his last US PGA at Valhalla in 2000, Woods won. When he played his last US Masters at Augusta this year, Woods won.

"It's been good, every time he's retired," said Woods. "I wish he'd keep retiring. It's been good so far."

Be that as it may, Woods comes into this major as the world's number one and a player who knows what it takes to win around the Old Course. He's also taken with the course set-up. "They do the right thing here, they keep it fair and let Mother Nature dictate what the winning score is going to be," said Woods.

That view is backed up by his record-low total in 2000, when the wind didn't blow, compared to John Daly's winning total - 13 shots higher - in 1995, when it did blow.

In a way, the R&A's decision to lengthen the course - constructing five new tees on the second, fourth, 12th, 13th and 14th holes - was a tamer form of "Tigerproofing" than that carried out by Augusta National. The firm fairways, though, have negated some of what was intended. In practice, with no wind, some players were still reaching the 14th green with a five-iron second shot.

But not all of the changes have met with universal approval. Clarke, for one, wasn't too impressed with the fourth hole. "There's nowhere to hit it. You actually drive it into the rough, which doesn't make sense. The carry is longer than 280 and you can't get out (to the fairway) if there is any breeze. That can't be right," he said.

In fact, the R & A decided earlier in the week to make that hole less penal by cutting back the rough up the right-hand side, effectively creating extra fairway to give players the option of going up the right. So, it could have been tougher.

As with any Open at St Andrews, which tests a player's whole game, the real secret - apart from staying out of bunkers a la Tiger - is putting. Whoever wins, will have to hole a lot of putts. To that end, Clarke has spent a considerable amount of time on the putting green with his short-game coach Stan Utley; and Ernie Els has widened his putting stance.

Another factor, of course, will be driving. The Old Course has always been one that suited long hitters.

So Woods will always thrive here, and so too Vijay Singh - if he can putt - and Davis Love and Retief Goosen and Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.

And, then, there is Sergio Garcia. As the top-ranked European player in the world rankings, he again has some weight to carry in that quest for an elusive major. Could it happen here? There's no reason why not.

If Garcia has had an Achilles' heel to contend with, it has been his putting. On greens here that are slower paced than those to be found on the US Tour or in the other majors, he should perform better with the blade in his hands.

He could well be the man to thwart Woods.