The world number one makes a habit of beginning his practice rounds at around 6am and he was able to play the first few holes at Royal St George's relatively unhindered before the usual Tiger entourage caught up with him by the seventh.

Reports last week had suggested the 2000 Open champion was struggling with a knee injury but the 27-year-old looked to be swinging and walking as smoothly as ever around the tough links course having flown in over the weekend.

Woods's tee shot at the opening 442-yard hole gave him an immediate indication, though, of the severity of a course he has yet to compete on.

He pushed his drive only marginally right but the ball nestled down in knee-high rough and defied the efforts of his early-bird followers -- three sponsor's representatives, two policemen plus his playing partner Charles Howell III -- to find it.

One lucky punter this week may stumble across the prized golfing possession of a genuine Tiger Woods lost ball but there will not be many on offer.

For the most part, on a glorious, almost windless morning, Woods kept his shots on the straight and narrow which they will need to be if he is to wrest the title off Ernie Els on the 7,106-yard, undulating and pot-bunkered layout.

Woods, out practising with his friend Howell 90 minutes before the next player took to the links, stretched his round to just under four hours as he experimented with chips and putts on the treacherously quick greens before dodging the autograph hunters in a waiting buggy.

By then, some 1,000 fans had caught up to walk the last few holes with Woods, who won his last tournament, the 100th Western Open, by five shots a fortnight ago.

Typically, Woods is keeping his thoughts to himself for now. He is scheduled to give a news conference later in the week, but fans will have to set their alarm clocks early to see him in action when he returns to the course on Tuesday.