BBC SPORT | Golf | The Open | Muirfield braces itself for Open

Live coverage of the 131st Open Championship on BBC Television, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sport Online from 18-21 July

The world's oldest Major golf tournament arrives at one of the world's oldest golf courses on 18 July.

Scotland's Muirfield will be host to The Open and what promises to be an exciting four days of action.

The tournament is made all the more fascinating because world number one Tiger Woods is going for the third piece of his Grand Slam jigsaw.

Should the 2000 Open champion win at the East Lothian course, only the USPGA would stand in his way between rewriting the record books yet again as the only player to have won all four Majors in one calendar year.

Mickelson has come very close to winning a Major on several occasions
Woods is the bookies' favourite once again, but there are a number of golfers capable of stopping him.

Sports Talk: Can Tiger do it?

Fellow American Phil Mickelson, who lies second in the world rankings, has enjoyed another successful year.

The San Diego-born left-hander finished third in the US Masters and second behind Woods at the US Open.

He also finished third in the Masters last year and runner-up at the US Open in 1999, though his performances at The Open have not been as impressive as he waits to win his first Major.

Can Monty shake off his nearly man tag?
Another player still carrying that "nearly man" tag is Scotland's very own Colin Montgomerie.

The 39-year-old, who won seven successive Volvo Order of Merit titles up until 2000 when he was usurped by Lee Westwood, has never lived up to expectations at the Majors.

His performances in recent Opens are far from healthy: 13th in 2001, 26th in 2000, 15th in 1999 and 79th in 1998.

In fact, his best-ever performance at The Open came in 1994 when he tied for eighth and this year's form, apart from two second placed-finishes, does not suggest he will improve upon that.

Garcia is the highest placed European in the world rankings
The other golfers behind Woods and Mickelson all stand a good chance at Muirfield.

Muirfield course guide

South Africa's Ernie Els, last year's US Open winner Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia have all shone on the American tour, while Irishman Padraig Harrington can also be considered as a strong oustider, despite not having a title this year.

The past five Open championships at Muirfield seem to suggest the course is suited to the player on top of his game, with Nick Faldo (twice), Tom Watson, Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus all unsurprising winners.

This year Woods has once again dominated golf and it would take a brave person to back against him breaking the tradition.