CARNOUSTIE, Scotland – As a skinny young man of the day Tiger Woods has for the first time tasted the links of golf with the venerable Carnoustie. Not on the course, but on the practice lap.

A student at Stanford University, Woods quickly learned to play balloon leeward and on the ground old ties. It was an amateur who was playing at the Scottish Open of 1995, but he was a child of heart who fell in love with this style of golf during this first day at Carnoustie

"It was the first time that he was in love. One of the coolest things, stay on the field, reach and hit the ball at the 100 meter sign .I was hitting 9 irons and 4 irons and 5 irons and I was having fun hitting that sign, "said Woods , Tuesday at Carnoustie, before the start of the 147th British Open on Thursday.

"I remember Dad on the shooting range with me saying," Are you ever going to hit the ball beyond the 100 meter sign? "And I said," No, I'm just taking advantage of it. Are you kidding me? That's what's best, "says Woods.

It was a two-hour tutorial before it was headed for the course, and on the second hole, he used his putter at 120 yards from the hole

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Since then, he has enjoyed great moments at the Open , winning at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005 and at Hoylake in 2006. He is back at Carnoustie's third Open – he tied for seventh in 1999 and tied for twelfth in 2007 – and his inner child again appeared.

"I've always loved playing golf," says Woods. "That's my favorite type of golf. I like this type of golf because it's creative and you have to use your mind. We will not get the most perfect bounces. A shot that is hit where you think you are a beautiful shot in the middle of the fairway could bounce in a strange way. Tiger Woods laughs with "width =" 540 "height =" 405 "data-mycapture-src =" "data-mycapture-sm-src =" "/>

During a practice lap, Tiger Woods jokes with Justin Thomas at the 12th green at a training round for the Open Championship at Carnoustie on July 16. (Photo: Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY's HUI Sports) [19659019AhotdrysummermadeCarnoustiebrownandfirmwithlotsoffireinthefairwaysandroughasperitiesThisjustaddstothechallengethatWoodssavoredashetriestowinforthefirsttimeOncesince2013

Since he's fielded Sunday, Woods has come up with the plan that he will use to attack the course.He put a TaylorMade prototype 2-folded iron at 17 degrees in his bag due to firm conditions, he and Cadet Joe LaCava are still working on the strategy of each start, especially when Woods hits his 335 yards of f to three as he did twice on Sunday.

While he still determines the pace of the greens, which are slightly slower Woods is confident in the mallet putter that he first put in his bag at his last start, a tied for fourth place in the Quicken Loans National three weeks ago.

" I've put it a little better, "said Woods." To be honest with you, I've struggled over slower greens throughout my career. That's one of the reasons I think I really like the fact that this putter has grooves so it rolls around a little faster and a little bit more true. And it's a bit warmer. "

Woods makes his 12th start of the year and was on the hunt Sunday night in five of the tournaments Tiger Woods plays his second shot on the show" width = "540" height = "405" data- mycapture-src = "" data-mycapture-sm-src = ""

Tiger Woods plays his second shot at the show bunkers on the 14th during a practice round for the tournament. golf Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links. (Photo: Ian Rutherford-USA TODAY'S HUI Sports)