Bernhard Langer wants to right some wrongs

"I've had periods in the last three or four years where I played as good as I've ever played in my career," said the German. "Maybe not day after day, but I've had weeks and months when I've played really good golf. That's encouraging and keeps me going, trying to stay reasonably fit and have the body to perform in a way that I'd like to see it perform."

Langer is playing in only his third Senior Open this week, having finished fourth at both Turnberry in 2008 and at Sunningdale 12 months ago. "It would mean a lot if I could win this event and not just because it would be my first major as a senior," he admitted. "I've always wanted to win the regular British Open but haven't done that. I've been second and third a few times. But this would be the next best thing."

Like Tom Watson, who came close to achieving the feat in last year's Open Championship at Turnberry, Langer, a ten-time Ryder Cup player, believes it is still possible for a senior player like him to win a regular major, though only on certain courses.

"I think that could happen on courses where it is more down to precision than just brutal length," he observed. "Turnberry last year, for instance, wasn't that long in yardage, if I'm correct. It was more on controlling the ball, shaping the ball.

"There's a lot of Hall of Famers, a lot of major winners out here and there's a reason why. They are 30 or 40 yards shorter than the younger guys, but still have a lot of game."

One of those players is Ian Woosnam, who is aiming to bridge a 14-year gap at Carnoustie this week, the Welshman having won the Scottish Open over the Angus course in 1996.

He's had an injection to ease some back pain but reported it's giving him some side effects. "It's giving me an inflammation in my legs," he said. "It makes me more tired."