Open War Predicted for Woods and Faldo

The starter on the first tee at Royal Liverpool might be well advised to have two pairs of boxing gloves ready for 2.09pm tomorrow after Tiger Woods yesterday abandoned his lifelong habit of staying above the fray to take a swipe at Nick Faldo, with whom he will play the first two rounds of the 135th Open at the Royal Liverpool club.

With the bookies last night offering 6-4 against the two men not shaking hands on the first tee, and odds of a fight starting during their first 18 holes together being cut from 100-1 to 25-1, Woods did nothing to dampen the enmity started when the Englishman criticised the world No1's swing while commentating on American TV.

Asked about his relationship, Woods was brief. "We don't talk." Asked if they would be conversing much during their scheduled 36 holes together, he was more expansive but not by much. "I have only played with him two times since I turned pro and there wasn't a lot of talking then either." Asked what would be his response if Faldo tried to start up a conversation, he shrugged. "Surprised."

As for his prospects in the tournament, Woods struck a confident pose, suggesting there were plenty of birdies to be had around Royal Liverpool and that he was the man to make more than any other player in the field. He predicted that, unless the wind started blowing off the Dee estuary, then his record low score for the Open, 19 under par at St Andrews in 2000, might be beaten.

"The par-fives are reachable and there are some short par-fours out there. You can get the ball pretty close to the hole," he said. "But overall it's going to be a fantastic challenge. We don't get a chance to do this very often but, when we do, it sure brings shot-making and creativity back into the game."

This will be Woods's second major since the death of his father, Earl, in May. Last month at the US Open he missed the cut, the first time that has happened at a major since he turned professional.

For Faldo it will be his first chance to play competitive golf for three months and he is unlikely to make much of an impression on the leaderboard, although he did have hopes of giving Woods cause to take notice. "Maybe I will surprise him and babble to him all the way round the golf course," he said last night.