Tiger is the headline maker throughout the world and when he's not playing there is definitely less press coverage of golf.

Despite the huge impact he has on the world of golf Sergio Garcia was right when he said that the Open is more important than anyone individual and when Tiger finishes his golf career the Open will continue to go on.

Many are saying that any victory without Tiger will be slightly tainted or diminished but that is not the case. For starters there is no guarantee that Tiger would win. Just take a look at the weather this week. Thankfully it's going to be breezy and a poor tee time will wreck anyone's chances even Tiger's.

Majors take a hell of a lot of winning. It is supreme test not only of a players overall golf game but also a huge mental test. The player who finds his name on the Claret Jug come Sunday will be the worthy winner and in twenty years time people will not say; 'Is that the one that Tiger didn't play.'

It's not just the absence of the world number one that makes this the most 'open' Open championship in recent years but the course.

Royal Birkdale is a classic links style track despite the fact that the ninth comes back to the clubhouse as I believe a true links does not. Mind you that's splitting hairs and I've never heard anyone complain about being able to stop for a quick half snifter.

The heavy rough and well placed fairway bunkers mean that players will generally be playing to the same spots, which brings the whole field closer together as length is not an issue.

Crisp ball striking will be the order of the day and only players that can control their trajectory in the wind will contend.

Jim Furyk acknowledges this fact and told us that he missed four cuts in a row at the Open because he changed his style of play from being a low ball hitter to a high ball hitter to contend more regularly on modern US style golf courses.

When he returned to play in the Open he couldn't simply switch back and therefore struggled at Open venues.

The young prodigy that is Anthony Kim is a classic case in point and you have never seen anyone look so bemused and beaten up by a golf course. He has never encountered the unique conditions of links golf and at this stage of his career is ill equipped to handle them.

One of the reasons we have had so few British winners of the Open in recent years is because the modern players didn't grow up playing links golf and the conditions are as alien to them as some of our American brethren.

Australians have a good record in the Open because they grew up playing links golf and can handle the conditions, which is why the likes of Allenby, Appleby, Ogilvy, Baddeley and Scott are such great ball strikers.

So coming up with a list of the best ball strikers you have to have Garcia right at the top. In my book he is the worthy favourite and these days he seems to have matured as a golfer and his self belief is huge.

The Wise One has Boo Weekley on his list and I don't disagree as Boo hits it straight and low.

Personally I like Justin Leonard's chance at the top of the market as he is one of the very best wind players n the game.

At bigger prices I have a sneaking suspicion that Stephen Ames will run into a place at decent odds. Having grown up in the windy paradise that is the Caribbean he can handle the conditions and can manoeuvre the golf ball like best of them.

In recent history the Open has provided some unlikely winners and given the course and windy conditions we may well see another surprise name on the Claret Jug alongside those of Todd Hamilton and Ben Curtis.

It's imperative that you have a few quid on a random American at huge prices. In order to pay for my dinner at Nobu with Frank Lampard last Saturday (okay he was at the next table) I've found one.

This man has won in the windy conditions of Hawaii, just lost in play off to the favourite a couple of months ago and played well in the windy conditions at Colonial a few weeks ago (where Justin Leonard won).

He's accurate off the tee, has a low ball flight and the stiff mental attitude required having brought up two kids on his own.

It may not be the name on everyone's lips but could be by the end of the week - Paul Goydos.

Be prepared for a random winner this week but whoever it is will be no less deserving because of Tiger's absence.