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Journalism of Courage
Tiger Woods has been drawn to play alongside former US Open champion Graeme McDowell and South African Louis Oosthuizen in the first two rounds of this weeks British Open at Muirfield. The trio will tee-off at 1445 local time 1345 GMT on Thursday and at 0944 on Friday.
Second-ranked Rory McIlroy has been grouped with American left-hander Phil Mickelson,last weeks Scottish Open winner,and Japans Hideki Matsuyama. Woods,who will be making his first competitive appearance since last months US Open in Pennsylvania,played nine holes in practice on Sunday.
The 14-times major winner said he still needed medication and treatment on his injured left elbow.
He had been suffering with minor discomfort ahead of the US Open at Merion where he aggravated the problem and was seen wincing and shaking his arm on several occasions. I started chipping and putting a little over a week ago and Im full go for the British Open, the 37-year-old American said on his website http://www.tigerwoods.com on Saturday.
Im very confident my elbow strain wont be a problem and I will be able to hit all the shots I need to hit. The big thing at Muirfield will be to avoid the rough, added Woods. Although I have been playing every day I also have to get back into a competitive feel.
Woods is making his second appearance at a Muirfield-hosted British Open after finishing tied 28th in 2002. My first visit didnt go very well. I caught the worst of the weather, he said. Thats just the nature of links golf. Luck plays a big part in it and you never know what youre going to get.
World number seven McDowell is one of golfs hottest players this year,having won the World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria,the RBC Heritage in South Carolina and this months French Open in Versailles.
Oosthuizen won the British Open,golfs oldest major,at St Andrews in 2010.
Title holder Ernie Els,US Open winner Justin Rose and American Brandt Snedeker feature in another marquee three-ball at 0911 in Thursdays opening round at Muirfield. US Masters champion Adam Scott has been drawn to play with American Matt Kuchar and Britains Luke Donald at 1412.
