Turnberry could be third time lucky for Tiger

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Tiger Woods goes into next week's British Open as heavy favorite to clinch his 15th major crown, despite having failed to convert winning form into success at the first two grand slam events this year.

The American world number one triumphed in his final PGA Tour starts before both the U.S. Masters in April and last month's U.S. Open without going on to secure victory in the two majors that followed.

Asked if that unusual sequence had crossed his mind, Woods replied with a broad grin: "It has now."

He tied for sixth at the Masters after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and again shared sixth spot at the U.S. Open, having claimed the Memorial title two weeks earlier.

Since then he has played in just one more event, emerging triumphant by one stroke at the AT&T National which he hosts in suburban Washington, D.C.

Having not won a major since his remarkable playoff victory over compatriot Rocco Mediate at last year's U.S. Open, Woods will be banking on third time lucky this season at Turnberry.

"Hopefully I can play like I did (at the AT&T) and continue to build next week," the 33-year-old told reporters after clinching his 68th career title.

"Just making sure you can flight your ball ... and maneuver it both ways efficiently because over there (in Britain) you don't know what kind of weather you're going to get."

WELL VERSED

Comfortably the greatest player of his era and possibly of all time, Woods is well versed in the art of winning majors. He has always been meticulous in his preparation and has long relished the challenge of links-course golf in Britain.

A winner of three British Opens, he is looking forward to tackling Turnberry's Ailsa course, which will be staging the championship for the first time since Zimbabwe's Nick Price lifted the Claret Jug in 1994.

"I've never played it, never been to it," Woods said of the spectacular par-70 Ayrshire layout. "I've only seen it on TV, and there's only so much you can see on videotape.

"The whole idea before I get there is to have everything dialed in, feel comfortable with my swing and my short putting, then start getting the feel for how to play over there.

"Once I get there, I do more prep work on the greens and make sure I truly understand how to play the golf course and have a game plan come Thursday."

Woods, who won his first British Open at St Andrews in 2000 before enjoying further success at St Andrews in 2005 and Hoylake in 2006, has been installed as a 2/1 favorite for next week by British bookmakers William Hill.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy are at 20/1 while Britons Ian Poulter and Paul Casey have been listed as 28/1 chances.

Irishman Padraig Harrington, although bidding for a rare hat-trick of British Open titles, is rated at 33/1 mainly because of a dismal run of form this season.

FIRST TIME

The workaholic Dubliner has missed his last five cuts on the PGA and European tours and has not won anywhere since his U.S. PGA Championship success in August last year.

"The last six months have been the worst in terms of performance I've had since I turned pro," Harrington said. "There's no doubt it could impinge on my performance at Turnberry."

A conspicuous absentee next week will be American world number two Phil Mickelson, who has shut down his playing schedule indefinitely to be with his wife Amy while she undergoes breast cancer treatment.

Turnberry, which will host the Open for a fourth time, is widely regarded as the most picturesque venue on the championship rota with the lighthouse behind the 14th green its landmark symbol.

Eight of its holes hug the rugged coastline with the iconic Ailsa Craig, rising like some ancient sea monster from the murky depths, keeping close watch off shore with the Isle of Arran lurking further in the distance.

"It could be quite a beast if the wind comes up," said 2002 British Open champion Ernie Els, who visited Turnberry earlier this week.

"I guess it will get firmer. It was soft when I was there and the rough is very high. But it's a very fair setup.

"No matter what your record is like, you need to strike the ball well and have some kind of game going into any kind of major."

The 138th British Open starts on Thursday.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)