I've had the pleasure of visiting and playing this week's course, Bethpage Black, once in my life, a few years before the first Open there in 2002.

It's the hardest course I've ever played, and the second-hardest round (I once played a round at Wild Horse in Gothenburg in simply unthinkable wind conditions.) It's quite a test in terms of sheer length, but also a test of accuracy, too.

My picks for the week are Tiger (fairly obvious) Baddeley (a Nobilo-type who will always contend at the open), Sergio (great iron play) and Cabrera (game is built for it). I don't like Phil to contend, and he may not even make the cut. The emotions, I sense, will be too difficult.