THERE are a couple of questions on the lips of everyone here at Royal Liverpool ahead of the 143rd staging of The Open Championship.

Will Tiger Woods roar again? Or will he struggle to tame the beast that is Hoylake and return home with his tail between his legs?

The American professional was for a long time the man to beat entering any Major golf tournament.

And invariably during his peak his fellow competitors failed to get the better of him - including when this event was last held on Merseyside in 2006.

Woods produced one of the finest performances of his astonishing career eight years ago to beat Chris Di Marco and lift the Claret Jug for the third time. But that was then and this is now.

The Tiger Woods who will stride on to the first tee to play his opening round just after nine o'clock tomorrow morning is a different animal to the one who continually struck fear into his rivals.

He is 38 now and is playing in only his second tournament since undergoing major surgery on a pinched nerve in his back four months ago.

Even before his injury problems, the 14-time Major winner was not the force he once was; his last triumph in a Grand Slam event was in the US Open way back in 2008.

Yet it would be foolish to write off his chances of defying the doubters and coming out on top in a tournament he enjoys and on a course he loves.

Plus, he has not forgotten how to golf his ball entirely; he won five times on the PGA Tour last season and was named their Player of the Year.

Typically, Woods refused to write off his prospects when he faced the world's media on The Wirral yesterday.

Asked what an acceptable outcome would be for him this week he replied: "First. Since I came back I have gotten stronger, more explosive and faster.

"I am not quite at the level that I can be at. But I am pretty darn close. I have won three Opens in the past and hopefully I can get more."

Adam Scott, who bogeyed the last four holes to blow his chance of Open glory at Royal Lytham two years ago, is pleased to see Woods in the 156-strong field.

And the world No.1 does not feel the Californian will be content to make up numbers and continue his comeback in the days ahead.

"It's good that he's back playing," the Australian said. "He generates so much interest in our sport. Plus, he will be wanting his top spot back.

"I am in that position now, but there are a bunch of players who really want it. We will see who wants it the most. There is going to be some really good golf ahead."

Even if Woods does manage to rediscover his best form, though, he will not dominate the event in the way he did when he won at St Andrews in 2000 and 2005 or at Hoylake in 2006.

The huge gulf between him and his opponents that existed when he first burst on to the scene in the mid-1990s has long since been closed.

Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and many, many others are now all good enough on their day to compete with the second most successful golfer of all-time.

It is not inconceivable that one of the sport's lesser names - including the on-form Stephen Gallacher of Scotland - can acquit themselves well and contend.

Doing well at The Open

depends a great deal on getting on the right side of the draw and high winds and heavy rain have been forecast here for the start of the tournament.

But adverse weather conditions will simply add to the excitement and intrigue for the huge crowds that are expected flock here to see Tiger Woods and Co. do battle for the most prestigious prize in golf.