Tiger Woods appreciates that the Old Course is set up for long hitters such as himself. (Photo: Getty Images)

Open Championship Notebook: Woods loosens up

Again, Tiger Woods avoids all the bunkers on the Old Course during his first practice round of the week. Plus, the Open Championship will observe a moment of silence, and Greg Owen goes home unhappy.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (PA) -- Tiger Woods returned to the scene of his Open Championship triumph on Sunday, and again avoided all of the Old Course's treacherous bunkers.

Woods amazingly failed to find a single bunker during all 72 holes of his eight-shot victory at St. Andrews in 2000.

And the world No. 1 successfully side-stepped all 112 hazards in his practice round Sunday afternoon in the company of 1998 champion Mark O'Meara and former Masters winner Fred Couples.

Woods did play a few shots from the Road Hole bunker on the 17th hole after dropping balls in there on purpose. But he looked in good form, almost driving the green on the ninth and 10th, par 4s measuring 352 and 380 yards, respectively.

Several new tees have been built to add more length to the course after Woods' record winning total of 19-under five years ago, and Woods admits the course is set up for the long hitters.

"Look at the list of winners. Jack [Nicklaus] has won here, John Daly, I've won here -- we are not short hitters." Woods added. "The course is made for someone who hits the ball long because the par 5s are reachable and a couple of par 4s you can drive the ball on.

"That's an advantage, and some of the cross bunkers that some guys have to worry about, others can fly them, and that's obviously an advantage."

A STOP FOR SILENCE: The Open Championship will observe a national two-minute silence on Thursday to remember the victims of the London bombings.

Play in the first round at St. Andrews will be halted at noon as a mark of respect.

Competitors at this week's European Tour event, the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, wore black ribbons, as they did after previous terrorist outrages and the death of Princess Diana.

OWEN DISAPPOINTED DESPITE ACE: Greg Owen of England had the first tournament hole-in-one of his life at the Barclays Scottish Open on Sunday, but disappointment was just around the corner.

When Owen aced Loch Lomond's 139-yard eighth with a 9-iron, a place in this week's Open was still a possibility. But a round 70 for a 9-under total was not enough, and he failed to make the field for St. Andrews.

The 33-year-old remains furious with officials at the Royal & Ancient Golf Club after discovering that they had skipped over him for a spot at St. Andrews after he withdrew from the American qualifying tournament two weeks ago.

He had no idea that scratching from the event to return to the European Tour would have that consequence. And even if he had played one shot and then withdrawn, he would have taken the place that became vacant when Billy Mayfair scratched.

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