Tiger could win Open blindfolded

Tiger Woods could win this week's British Open wearing a blindfold, his coach Butch Harmon said on Tuesday.

"Even if you put a blindfold on Tiger he could still win," Harmon told British newspapers. "He is that good and in a different league to the rest.

"When Tiger is on his game, no-one can beat him. Even if the best players are at their top level, Tiger has an extra gear which none of them have."

Harmon, who also coaches Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke and other top players, said: "He (Tiger) loves the pressure, he lives for it. He thrives on being the man right in the heat of battle come Sunday afternoon.

"He lives for the majors and is always hungry for more. His biggest strength is something you can't see -- his mind. He will fight you and fight you until you have nothing left. That's why he is so good."

World number one Woods, who won last year's British Open by eight strokes at St Andrews, will start the defence of his title on Thursday at Royal Lytham.

But he goes into the event having been below his best in his last three tournaments -- finishing in a tie for 12th at the U.S. Open, a tie for 16th at the Buick Classic and equal 20th at the Western Open two weeks ago.