British Open: Philip Reid feels that the conditions may be right for Sergio Garcia to make a challenge.

The other day - Monday, actually - Sergio Garcia hit a horrendous shank from the middle of the first fairway, and it gave him a stark message of the challenge that awaits not just him but each of the 156 players who today go in search of the claret jug.

More often than not, the ball, even if it should be on the fairways, will be below your feet and caution - as well as a creative mind - is called for on each and every shot. Those too brazen for their own good won't be around for the weekend. Yet, Garcia, whose nature is to be naturally extrovert and flamboyant, is convinced that he has the resolve necessary to mount a serious challenge in his quest for a major.

The Spaniard has undergone some drastic changes to his swing, which he described as "a work in progress," since last year when he was the only player to secure top-10 finishes in all four majors. This year hasn't been so good. In the season's first two majors, he was tied-28th in the Masters and tied-35th in the US Open, he failed to replicate last year's showings while he missed the cut in six of the first 11 strokeplay tournaments he played in.

In recent times, though, there has been evidence that Garcia has rediscovered his form. Although victories have evaded him, his fourth-place finish in the Buick Classic hinted that the old swagger was returning. And there is something about links golf that inspires Garcia, even if he had a horrendous experience in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie where he opened with an 89 that left him visibly shocked.

"I've matured since then," he said of the Carnoustie experience. "I've grown bigger and I know how to handle myself better. I know how to be patient. Those are things that really help when you're out on the golf course. It's not easy, but you have to realise that it is just a game and you can just do your best."

That disaster apart, much of Garcia's play on links courses has been impressive. He won the British Amateur in 1998 and he actually made his British Open debut as a 16-year-old - missing the cut at Royal Lytham in 1996 - but, in the past two years, he has twice finished in the top-10.

"I've played a lot of links golf so I know it," said Garcia. "I can picture some of the shots that maybe the guys from the United States can't. If you see most of the European guys, they know how to handle these conditions a little better than some of the American guys."

Garcia, you feel, is due a decent performance in a major. He has been paired with Tiger Woods and Luke Donald for the opening two rounds - "I'm going to enjoy it and see what happens," he said - and that's the sort of exposure that usually has a positive effect on him.

Indeed, far from being intimidated by playing with Woods, or seeing it as a nuisance, Garcia remarked of Woods's prospects, "I wouldn't rate him as the top one on my list in these kind of conditions, but he can definitely play, there is no doubt about that".

For someone who has lived with the high expectations of others since moving into the professional game, Garcia also has his own expectations and winning the British Open is one of them.

"It's one of my goals, there is no doubt about that. That's what I practice for, to win majors. I'm confident that if I keep moving on this path that I will win one. Definitely. I'm working hard at it and I just have to be patient and wait my time. As soon as you win one, then the next seems to be a little easier."

If he gets to knock on the door here, we'll see if it is opened.