Links course fan Ogilvy eyes Birkdale with confidence

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - Ideal preparation for this week's British Open at Royal Birkdale has given world number three Geoff Ogilvy a major confidence boost.

The 31-year-old Australian has produced good form in his last three starts on the PGA Tour and his excitement level always peaks when he plays links-course golf.

"I come here feeling pretty decent about it," former U.S. Open champion Ogilvy told reporters on Tuesday.

"I've played pretty well the last month or so and at Torrey (Pines) I was in great shape with two holes to play," he added, referring to the June 12-15 U.S. Open where he tied for ninth.

"I'm one of 10 guys who can say that but I didn't finish it off as well as I would have liked.

"I like this tournament and I have optimism when I get to big tournaments every time. I'm feeling optimistic about my chances this week."

Ogilvy, who clinched his one and only major win in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, warmed up for Birkdale by playing several links courses nearby on the north-west English coastline.

RICH AREA

"I do really enjoy links golf and this is a fairly rich area for good golf courses, probably the best in England," he said.

"I've played six or seven of them and there are probably 25 that are great courses. You don't get many spots in the world where you have so many good courses right next to each other.

"It's been perfect preparation for the tournament and it's an enjoyable thing to do. So it's good preparation as well as having a lot of fun."

Although Ogilvy rued the absence this week of injured world number one Tiger Woods, he felt the world's oldest major championship would not be diminished.

"Tournaments feel better when he's here, for sure, and when you win a golf tournament when he's there, it's extra satisfying," the four-times PGA Tour winner said.

"But if any tournaments can stand up strong when he's not around, it's this one and the U.S. Open and the Masters and the PGA. Those events are bigger than any one guy. It's a shame when he's not playing but the Open is the Open."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)