Tiger Woods' love affair with St Andrews goes back 20 years and the former world No. 1 cannot wait for romance to blossom again at the 144th British Open that starts on Thursday.

The 39-year-old American made his first appearance in golf's oldest major in the 1995 edition held at the Old Course and went on to win the prized Claret Jug when the championship returned to the iconic links in 2000 and 2005.

Woods is expecting the course to present a different kind of challenge this week but is licking his lips at the prospect nonetheless.