US golfer Tiger Woods feels this week's Open championship at Troon will identify the best player in the world, but there is a good chance it will not be him.

　　Finishing 17th at the US Open last month means it is now eight majors without a win for Woods, the longest barren streak since he went 10 majors without a victory after his maiden triumph in the 1997 US Masters.

　　Compare that to his run of seven wins in 11 majors from the 1999 USPGA Championship up to the 2002 US Open - which included the famous 'Tiger Slam' when he held all four titles at once - and it is easy to see why former coach Butch Harmon believes Woods is "in denial" about the state of his game.

　　The pair may have since called a truce following their war of words at Shinnecock Hills, but there is no disguising the fact that the world number one has not been on top form recently.

　　The 28-year-old has recorded seven top-10 finishes this season, four in his last five events, and won the Accenture Match Play title at La Costa in February.