Can Tiger conquer St Andrews again?

The world's best golfers are in St Andrews this week for the Open Championship, with Tiger Woods out to repeat his 2000 triumph when he blitzed the field to win by eight shots. The American's dominance is not what it was, however, and there will be a stack of big names itching to lift the Claret Jug on Sunday afternoon.

Woods is a big favourite at 11/4 (3.75), with Ernie Els next best at 9/1 (10.00). That may seem ludicrous given the way the players have caught up with Tiger in recent years but I wouldn't put anyone off backing the American at St Andrews. Quite simply, the course is made for him. When he won in 2000, he managed to avoid every one of the course's 129 bunkers, and with a short game that was second to none, there was no stopping him.

The course has been lengthened a little, but if he can avoid the bunkers again this time, he'll take some beating especially as, after a couple of shaky years (by his high standards only, it has to be said) his swing looks much tighter. His only problems could come if the wind blows this week, as he's not the greatest wind player and has been known to lose his game in previous windy Opens.

Els has to be respected given his Open record of four top-three finishes in five years, including victory in 2002. He absolutely loves links golf, but he has not exactly been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, partly due to the death of his grandfather. If he gets a good start, he'll almost certainly be in the reckoning.

bet365 are taking few chances, with the so-called big five occupying the top five spots in their market. Vijay Singh is 12/1 (13.00) but for all his outstanding efforts elsewhere around the world, he has never really done well at the Open, perhaps because of his shaky putting. Phil Mickelson, though, looks decent value at 16/1 (17.00), thanks to a stunning short game and a meticulous preparation for this week's event. His third-place finish in last year's event was his best Open effort and he looks primed for a good showing.

Retief Goosen, an 18/1 (19.00) chance, has not really shown his face at the top of leaderboards since he collapsed in the final round of the US Open, but the South African has finished in the top 10 in each of the past three Opens. At 20/1 (21.00) Sergio Garcia catches the eye. His length off the tee will give him a good shot at the cavernous St Andrews greens, where placement is the key rather than US-style out-and-out attacking. His short game is as good as that of Tiger, and he just needs a few putts to drop.

No Briton has won the Open since Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999, but Luke Donald heads the home challenge. The young Englishman, third in his first Masters, has a near-perfect swing and a great temperament, and is 33/1 (34.00) to triumph, while in-form Lee Westwood, who's won on the course before, is 40/1. (41.00)

In fact, eight of the past 10 champions have been Americans, with Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton coming from nowhere in 2003 and 2004 to take the title, but St Andrews only yields to the very best. From 1970, the winners there read Jack Nicklaus, Nicklaus again, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, John Daly and Tiger Woods.

Outside bets Of the outsiders, don't be surprised if Jose Maria OIazabal has a good week. The Spaniard is back in form after a hard winter's work. He has produced a string of consistent finishes and having been granted a place only when the injured Seve pulled out, he may just feel it's his time. The two-time Masters champion is 100/1 (101.00), the same as price as 1995 winner Daly, who also shouldn't be discounted. Daly has produced some good showings in the US again this year and his delicate touch around the greens and length off the tee will always make him a threat around St Andrews.

Davis Love, a 28/1 (29.00) has a stunning Open record in recent years - his fifth place last year followed finishes of 10-7-7-11-21-14-4. For spread followers, keep an eye out if he's a little off the pace going into the final round as in seven of his past eight Opens, he's broken 70 in the fourth round, shooting 67 a remarkable four times.