In perfect conditions the world number one raced round in three-and-a-half hours, considerably quicker than he will be able to manage when the championship gets underway on Thursday.

Woods, accompanied as ever by three of his own bodyguards and two police officers, then chatted briefly with Jack Nicklaus on the clubhouse steps before the 65-year-old set out for his own practice round, scheduled to be with fellow former St Andrews winner Nick Faldo.

Woods, 29, then headed for the practice putting green beside the first tee with caddie Steve Williams.

Woods won by eight shots the last time the British Open was staged here in 2000, setting a record total of 19 under par.

And he is in confident mood ahead of the third major of the year having won the US Masters in April and finished second to Michael Campbell in the US Open at Pinehurst.

“I was satisfied when I won one, I felt I should have won the other,” Woods said at last week’s JP McManus pro-am in Ireland. “I put together four good ball-striking rounds at the Open on one of the most difficult courses you can face. I finished second last in putting so that tells you how well I hit the golf ball.”