Woods to play with Rose and Villegas at British Open

Tiger Woods will play alongside England's Justin Rose and Colombian Camilo Villegas for the first two rounds of the British Open at St Andrews this week.

Woods will be firmly in the spotlight as he attempts to claim a third successive victory at the Home of Golf, having won the title here by eight strokes in 2000 and five in 2005.

It is Woods' first appearance at the tournament since the extra-marital affairs which caused a storm of controversy late last year and forced him to stay away from golf for several months.

Since his return, the 34-year-old has finished fourth in both The Masters and US Open, but his form has been as unpredictable as he tries to move on from the revelations about his serial adultery.

He will tee-off at 9:09am on Thursday and 2:20pm on Friday, with Rose, a winner of two of his last three tournaments in America, and Villegas destined to be overshadowed by the American.

Rose expects Woods to get a good reception from the huge crowds that will follow the group and he wouldn't be surprised if the American put aside his problems to claim another title here.

"It will be like sheep, if people start to clap him then everybody will follow suit," Rose said.

"I think a couple of holes into the championship he will be respected like everybody else because I think that's what an Open championship crowd does.

"They are here for the golf. They appreciate good play. If he gets playing well I think they will be excited and respond accordingly.

"He's not had the type of run he's had recently probably ever, but I still think he's the man to beat.

"If he gets his confidence going there's a 'horses for courses' mentality and he will remember shots he has hit and how to play this course."

It is not the first time Woods and Rose have been drawn together at the British Open.

Eight years ago at Muirfield, Rose out-scored Woods 68 to 70 in the first round, but followed it up with only a 75 to the American's 68.

Woods was the reigning Masters and US Open champion at the time, but his bid for golf's first-ever Grand Slam of all four majors in one season was effectively ended by a round of 81.

Paul Lawrie, Britain's last winner of the Claret Jug, will hit the opening drive of the tournament - at 6:30am on Thursday.

Current Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who has another chance to topple Woods as world number one this week, begins his challenge alongside Colin Montgomerie and Retief Goosen.

Montgomerie, Europe's Ryder Cup captain and runner-up to Woods in 2005, shot a course record 62 in qualifying at Sunningdale New a month ago to continue his run of playing in every Open since his debut at St Andrews in 1990.

Teeing off just behind Woods and Rose will be 60-year-old Tom Watson, loser of a play-off to Stewart Cink at Turnberry last year after incredibly leading by one with one to play.

Five-time champion Watson, now back at the course where he was second to Seve Ballesteros in 1984, partners twice winner Padraig Harrington and Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.

Graeme McDowell, the US Open champion, plays with American Jim Furyk and Australian Geoff Ogilvy, while Cink starts his defence of the trophy alongside Ian Poulter and Ernie Els.