Woods gets there early: Tiger Woods has no intention of spending as much time as Phil Mickelson at Hoylake in advance of the British Open championship start on Thursday, but he was back on the course at 6.45am yesterday.

The world number one and defending champion played the Royal Liverpool course for the first time on Saturday and was back for another look with Australian Rod Pampling.

Mickelson, who but for double-bogeying the final hole of the US Open last month would have been going for a clean sweep of the majors, flew to Britain three weeks ago and spent a reported nine hours on the links then.

And he returned at the end of last week to continue his preparations for an event in which he has had just one top 10 finish - third at Troon two years ago - in 13 attempts.

Hoylake has not staged the Open since 1967, when Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo beat Jack Nicklaus by two shots.

It had been hoped de Vicenzo would be present this week to see his successor crowned, but he has now decided not to make the trip. Australian Peter Thomson, who won his third successive title there in 1956, is expected to be present 50 years on, though.

Leonard staying home

Justin Leonard, winner in 1997 at Royal Troon, has joined Greg Norman and David Toms in withdrawing from this week's Open.

The 34-year-old American's wife is expecting their second child and the former champion has decided to stay at home. Leonard has not won on the PGA Tour this season and his best finish was tied seventh at the FBR Open.

His decision allows England's Simon Khan into the 156-strong field. Khan was the next highest player on the world rankings who had entered the championship.