Everyone knows about his affinity with St Andrews where he has won both his British Open titles, but he came into this tournament . . . only his third event in over three months . . . accompanied by legitimate doubts over the sharpness of his game.

What if it blew a gale, like at Muirfield four years ago where his hopes of a grand slam were swept away, and what if his driver betrayed him once more? Following his disappointing early exit from Winged Foot last month, would his club face and his head both be in the right place?

Admittedly, his designs on an 11th major success, and on becoming the first player to retain this championship since Tom Watson in 1983, have been helped by the glorious conditions here, but once he put on an exhibition of sublime iron play during Friday's second round, those doubts were suddenly about as relevant as long johns in a heatwave.

To Phil Mickelson the preparation, but to Woods, the execution.

If the much-anticipated major showdown with Mickelson was replaced instead by a confrontation with Ernie Els, no one was complaining.

This had all the makings of a shoot-out with both players having produced such sparkling golf in the previous round.

Yet, like two prizefighters circling each other, Woods and Els appeared to be locked in a form of private combat and their scratchy play over the opening nine holes only created an opening for the chasing pack.

Not that anyone was taking their eyes off the marquee match, but suddenly Sergio Garcia was storming into contention, closely pursued by Jim Furyk, Angel Cabrera and DiMarco. With an impressive British Open track record, but little or no current form, Garcia eagled the second hole with a nine iron and then raced to the turn in an outstanding sixunder-par 29.

Woods managed to give himself some breathing space with a couple of birdies on the way out, but after only two bogeys in his first 36 holes, he had two on the front nine to be out in level par. He was sticking to his game plan, but it was not quite the inspirational Tiger of Friday.

Els was off-colour as well, and as the putative Big Two failed to spark, Garcia took the early lead in the clubhouse with a brilliant 65 for a 12-under-par total of 204.

Furyk and then Cabrera followed him with 66s for 205, while out of nowhere, Japan's Hideto Tanihara also moved into contention on 206 after yet another 66.

To suggest that the parched conditions here have been the single most significant factor in Woods's possible march to victory is no exaggeration. With fairways as firm as a runway, and rough that has been burnt off by the soaring temperatures, the world number one has been able to let the dust gather on his Nike driver.

Even when he was in the throes of his most recent swing change, his 'stinger' with either a two or a three iron was his undoubted stock shot. He could use it as a comfort blanket in bad times, but on soft American courses, he would find himself too far back to attack the greens.

Here, with the ball bounding like rubber off the scorched earth, and with the breeze really a mere zephyr for experienced links players, length has not been a factor. Routinely one of the game's most powerful hitters, Woods went into the third round as low as 25th in driving distance with an average of 298 yards . . . behind Retief Goosen who led the way on 322 yards . . . but the sacrifice has clearly been worth it.

With a long iron, or an occasional three wood, in his hands, Woods has been able for the most part to avoid Hoylake's punishing bunkers from his perch in the middle of the fairway. His uncharacteristically slack approach to the second hole yesterday was only the second time he had visited sand in the tournament.

By taking the bunkers out of play, and with no cabbage of US Open proportions, he has considerably lessened the stress of defending his title.

Equally, he has decided to ignore the majority of the R&A's evil pin placements and take dead aim for the middle of the green, a strategy which makes one wonder if that now famous four iron for an eagle two at the 14th hole was actually struck on the line Woods had planned.

Anyway, the Shot Heard Around the Wirral will no doubt be absorbed in lore if Woods has his name engraved on the Claret Jug later today. "I don't think anyone is scared of Tiger, " said recently-crowned US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. "It's more like 'Here we go again'."

On yesterday's evidence, with Garcia, Furyk, Cabrera and DiMarco making their respective runs at the overnight leader, and with Els staying in the hunt, Ogilvy was right about the lack of a fear factor. As for the 'Here we go again', Woods remains the man to beat.