Steve DiMeglio

USA TODAY Sports

HOYLAKE, England – Eight years ago, as he won his third Claret Jug on the sun baked links at Royal Liverpool Golf Club with an overpowering display of skill, precision and control, Tiger Woods felt an unmistakable and uncommon calm during an emotional week, two months following the death of his father.

Woods had pressed in the Masters that year, knowing his father, Earl, would most likely never see him play again.

Then Woods played miserably in the U.S. Open and missed the cut. Then he arrived at Hoylake for the 2006 Open.

"I came here and just felt at peace," Woods said Tuesday ahead of Thursday's start of the 143rd British Open. "I really, really played well. On Sunday I really felt calm out there. It was surreal at the time. I've had a few moments like that in majors where I've felt that way on a Sunday.

" … I wouldn't necessarily say it was every day but certainly on Sunday I really felt that my dad was with me on that one round. I said it back then that it was like having my 15th club."

Woods is at peace again this week, his mind cleared of doubt following back surgery March 31 for a pinched nerve.

Leading up to the surgery Woods could barely get out of bed, couldn't play with his two children and wondered about the future of his livelihood.

But Woods said he has gotten stronger and his swing faster with each passing week, and he secured confidence when he made his return to the PGA Tour three weeks ago at the Quicken Loans Invitational, where, despite missing the cut, he suffered no setbacks.

Despite playing just two competitive rounds in four months and playing in his first major of the season, his intent is clear this week – to win.

"Once I started getting stronger, more stable, I could work on my explosiveness, and start getting my speed back. Each and every week I've gotten stronger and faster," Woods said. "Probably not quite at the level that I think I can be at as far as my explosion through the golf ball, but I'm pretty, pretty darn close."

He won't lose the Open for a lack of trying.

The former world No. 1 and winner of 14 majors arrived five days ahead of Thursday's opening tee shot and played varying lengths of practice rounds on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. As well, he got in a workout at a local fire station on Monday.

"I've played three practice rounds now and have had three different winds. … That's awfully nice because I've had to hit completely different clubs off a lot of these tee shots because the winds have been so different," Woods said. "I came here a day earlier than I normally would. To have an extra day in there, as well as possibly taking a day off, if need be. And it worked out."

The clock is eight years forward and things have changed since the Open was last at Royal Liverpool, especially the golf course. In 2006, two fire engines were on site in case a fire would break out on the charred grounds and players and spectators were warned to be careful when smoking. This year the course is green and lush yet not slow.

And the field is deeper, led by world No. 1 Adam Scott, No. 2 Henrik Stenson, No. 3 Justin Rose (who has won his last two events), Masters champion Bubba Watson, Players and U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, defending champion Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day and Jordan Spieth.

"I think (winning) gets harder every year, just because there are more guys with a chance to win," Woods said. "It's just getting deeper. It's getting harder to win. The margin is so much smaller. It's only going to continue to be the case. Guys are going to get longer, they're going to get faster.

"Guys who are coming out here are bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic. When I first came out here in '97, I averaged somewhere just under 300 yards (per drive). I walked around with Gary Woodland on Sunday and he said, 'Yeah, I finally found a driver and a ball I can hit 320 again in the air.'

"So the game has changed a lot since then."

So, too, has Woods.

"As I person I've gone through a lot, the loss of a parent and having two kids. Life is very different than it was then," Woods said. "I've got a completely different golf swing than I did in '06. A lot of aspects of my game and life have changed since '06.

" … It's great to be back here. We'll see what happens."