Tiger Woods believes he can win his fourth Open title and third at St Andrews when the oldest major returns to the home of golf.
Speaking at the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am, which was won by Darren Clarke, the 14-times major winner revealed he hopes the special appeal of St Andrews will inspire him to a third successive title at the Scottish venue.
'This is where it all started and to win at the home of golf, it has such a special feeling walking up the last,' said Woods, who won the Open at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005 before winning a third Claret Jug in Royal Liverpool in 2006.
'I've had that feeling in major championships before and other ones, but this one is different because of the history behind it.
'That's as good as it gets for your introduction to links golf. I just fell in love with it because the lines and angles are not what people say they are.
'It takes a lot of imagination to win. You look at past champions at St Andrews, a lot of them have great short games and great imagination and ball control.'
An estimated 40,000 fans braved heavy showers and high winds to watch Woods and a field that featured 13 of the world's top 20 players on Tuesday. A day after carding a seven-over-par 79, the 34-year-old world number one improved by 10 strokes at the invitational event.
But despite his improved form, a tetchy Woods was in no mood to field questions about his private life.
Five months after publicly apologising for his string of extra-marital affairs, the American snapped at reporters after carding a three-under-par 69 in the second round of the event he is using to fine-tune his game before next week's Open Championship.
Asked why he was jetting straight back to the United States instead of remaining in Ireland or going to Britain to practice on links courses, he answered tersely: 'Because I need to get home'.
When quizzed my a reporter if his decision to return to Orlando was due to 'personal stuff', Woods glared at his questioner and replied: 'See my kids'.
Another reporter asked Woods if he felt his multiple infidelities had been worth it given his relatively poor form since returning to the game.
'I think you are reading too deep into this,' Woods replied.
Woods did admit that playing golf has helped him to cope with all the upheaval in his life.
'Golf is something that I've done for a very long time and there are times in one's life when things get put in perspective; one being when my father passed away (in 2006), and obviously what I've been going through lately,' he said.
'I have a lot of friends out here and it's nice to see a lot of my friends that I haven't seen in a while, especially touring pros.
'The fans have been incredible since I've come back. That part has been.... I couldn't ask for a better return.'
Woods' team-mates were National Hunt jockey AP McCoy and the now-retired Mick Fitzgerald, who described it as a dream come true to play with the golfer.
'There were no lows, it was highs all the way,' said McCoy, who plays off a handicap of 14.
His caddy and best friend, Irish champion jockey Ruby Walsh, described Woods as a 'gentleman' who was great company over the 18 holes.
McCoy, from Co Antrim, hooked a drive on the sixth hole and his ball struck seven-year-old Stephen O'Loughlin, of Beaufort, Co Kerry, on the leg.
'I heard him crying when I got down there, so I got Tiger to sign a cap and gave it to him,' he said.
'Funny enough, that stopped the crying.'
McCoy said Woods was very chatty and although he was not really interested in horse racing, he asked him a lot about a jockey's weight, hydration and diet regime.
But Woods remained elusive to most, only briefly breaking a self-imposed ban on signing autographs for any of the 40,000 fans who thronged into the five-star resort.
Around 10 children broke through heavy security on the ninth tee and were given an autograph - but many more were rebuked.
But the star did take time to give signatures to several disabled children waiting for his arrival at the 18th.
Amateurs taking part in the invitational event have to pay out around E41,500 euro (E34,000) each for the pleasure of sharing a round with one of the game's biggest names.
This year, 12 of the world's 15 top-ranked players agreed to compete in the two-day event, which is expected to raise millions for charities in and around Limerick.
