All eyes on Woods and Faldo in opening round

HOYLAKE, England, July 20 (Reuters) All eyes will be on holder Tiger Woods and triple champion Nick Faldo in the British Open first round today.

Woods, 30, and Faldo, 49, are due to tee off in the same match with Japan's Shingo Katayama at 1409 local time at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Asked by reporters what his relationship with Faldo was like after the Briton criticised his swing on U.S. television last year, Woods said: ''We really don't talk much.

''I have only played with him two times since I have been a pro and there wasn't a lot of talking then either.'' Asked if he would shake hands with Faldo on the first tee and 18th green, the world number one said: ''I don't know. I really don't know.'' Faldo, who won six majors in total, played down the idea of a rift with the American although he was surprised the pair had been drawn in the same group.

''I am surprised the R&A would do that,'' he said. ''I thought they would put (U.S. Open champion) Geoff Ogilvy or someone like that (with Woods) because I am in a slightly different age group and era to him.

''I was just doing what I was paid to do,'' said Faldo referring to his comments about Woods's swing. ''I don't see there is any problem.

''I mean, if I compliment him, nobody says anything, do they.

It's funny that?'' Reuters YA GC0652