Tiger Woods is back on the The Open trail

Tiger Woods remains upbeat and in a positive mood despite an up and down level par round of 71 (-2).

Woods clearly didn’t have it all his own way but is still lurking and dangerously on the prowl as he seeks to win his 15th major and his first for five years.

And only a fool would write Woods off at the halfway mark as he attempts to emulate his 2006 Open victory in similarly sweaty conditions at Royal Liverpool.

He summed up: I’m in a good spot. I’m tied for the clubhouse lead I think with Henrik (Stenson) and Westy (Lee Westwood) . These guys have to go out this afternoon and obviously play a golf course that’s quick and it’s drying out and with a different wind so it will be tough out there.

“Will I watch them suffer? I might, I might not but first I’m going to get something to eat.”

Woods is desperate to return to the winning majors trail, adding:” I’ve put myself there in some majors but , just haven’t won. I’ve had chances on the back nine on many of those Sundays. It’s just one of those things that I haven’t got home. I’ve just got to continue putting myself there.

“You continue playing, continue putting myself there. I’m not going to win every Major I play in, but certainly I can try and put myself there. If I give myself enough opportunities, I’ll get my share, and I think I have done that so far in my career.”

He knows full well though that it’s not going to be a stroll in the park. “I’ve got to continue to be patient but when I have, I’ve been able to capitalise, and hopefully I can continue doing that.

“But this is going to be a difficult one,” he predicted “specially if the wind continues to come out of the east. I think the forecast for tomorrow is to maybe a little bit cooler and obviously if it’s a little cooler, there’s a little more humidity in the air.”