TIGER WOODS - still world number one, but still without a major since the 2002 United States Open - believes Royal Troon could be where he proves his critics wrong.
It was at the Ayrshire links in 1997 that Woods shot his lowest-ever round in major championships, a seven-under-par 64 in the third round.
Youngest-ever Masters champion at the time, he could still finish only 24th, but after a disappointing 17th place at the United States Open this weekend he said: "I like my chances there. I put myself right back in the ball-game and then didn't put it together on the front nine. But it's a great course with probably the easiest nine holes you'll ever play in a major championship and then the hardest nine holes you'll ever play in a major championship.
"Just about everybody is three to five under par going out and it's rare anyone shoots even par coming in."
Woods would have lost his position at the top of the world rankings if Ernie Els had triumphed at Shinnecock Hills. But Els, second with a round to go, fell away with an 80.
The state of Woods' game remains a topic of hot debate and his former coach Butch Harmon really ignited things last week by saying: "For him to stand there in every interview and say he's getting close and he feels really good about what he's doing, I think he's in denial."
Despite being without a strokeplay win since last October Woods responded: "I don't understand why he would ever say anything like that, especially when we've been close.
"He does not know what I'm working on.
"It doesn't do himself or anyone any good to do that. I mean, friends say that face-to-face. I think that's the way it should have been handled."
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