The Forest of Arden is a real gem of a course - and a mixture of styles. The back nine is absolutely breathtaking, hewn out of the original forest with a host of wildlife, including deer and pheasants, flitting around as bystanders.

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It boasts plenty of water too and, of course, trees to keep the pros on the straight and narrow.

The opening nine is more parkland in style - apparently permission couldn't be attained to construct further into the forest - and when the wind blows club selection is particularly tricky.

It plays every foot of its 7,213 yards and is a good, testing par-72.

Tournament director Miguel Vidaor says that, despite a pretty wet spring, the course is in fine condition.

EASIEST HOLE: The 524-yard par-five seventh averaged 4.65 strokes last year on the Reuters Stats and should again serve up a pretty decent birdie opportunity.

The prevailing wind generally blows right to left and although there's a water hazard it's too far right to come into play for all except the wildest of tee shots.

There is also a ditch to the left - Colin Montgomerie famously brandished his club at a photographer after ending up there a couple of years ago - but again, should not come into play for most.

Last year, many players were using as little as seven iron to find the green in two. It gave up 183 birdies and 12 eagles.

HARDEST HOLE: It's a toss-up between the ninth and 13th - both long par fours - but although the former is a tad shorter at 476 yards, we're plumping for this as the real pig of the week.

You have to drive over water and then avoid more of the wet stuff on the right of the fairway. For good measure, there's trees both sides of the fairway and it's pretty much uphill all the way to the green. Even the biggest hitters struggle to make it in two if the wind blows the wrong way.

Last year, it averaged 4.27 strokes and only 43 birdies were notched here all week.

The first European Tour event of the year in England as ever has attracted a first-rate field. Darren Clarke leads the contenders, having won at the Forest of Arden twice in past five years, the 2000 and 2002 English Opens.

Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Paul Casey are also interrupting their American sojourns to make their way to the Midlands.

Other leading European stars in attendance include Colin Montgomerie, Thomas Bjorn, Graeme McDowell and the defending champion Barry Lane.