Golf-Open-Woods to launch Hoylake defence with Faldo, Katayama

HOYLAKE, England, July 17 (Reuters) Tiger Woods will launch his British Open title defence in the company of three-times winner Nick Faldo and Shingo Katayama of Japan at Hoylake on Thursday.

The world number one, who coasted to victory by five strokes at St. Andrews last year, will tee off at 1409 local (1309 GMT).

Widely considered the tournament favourite despite having played only two events over the last three months, Woods will be chasing his third Claret Jug, having claimed his first at St. Andrews in 2000.

Ernie Els, the 2002 champion at Muirfield, will play the first two rounds with Britain's Luke Donald and Italy's Italian Edoardo Molinari, winner of the 2005 U.S. amateur title.

South African Els will start his bid for a fourth major victory at 0758 on Thursday.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson has been grouped with Britain's Darren Clarke and Yasuharu Imano of Japan.

The American left-hander, still bruised after his final-hole collapse in last month's US Open at Winged Foot, is set to tee off at 0920 in the opening round.

In other high-profile groupings, Vijay Singh, European number one David Howell and American Zach Johnson will begin at 0820 on Thursday while Briton Colin Montgomerie, runner-up behind Woods at last year's championship, will tee off at 0858 in the company of big-hitting John Daly and Australia's Stuart Appleby.

Sweden's Peter Hedblom is scheduled to hit the first shot of the 135th Open championship at 0630 on Thursday morning.

Hoylake's Royal Liverpool Golf Club, hosting the British Open for the 11th time, has not held the tournament since 1967 when Argentina's Roberto de Vicenzo clinched his only major title.

REUTERS DH PM1705