FIRED-up Phil Price, the form man of the moment, says he is confident and raring to go in the 132nd Open Championship which gets underway tomorrow over the Royal St George's course at Sandwich.

After victory in the European Open at the K Club, Dublin, and a joint second place in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond last weekend, Bassaleg-based Price has never been in a more upbeat mood going into a major championship.

The normally reserved player, who rarely gets too excited about his performances, said: "Over the last two weeks, I have been playing the best golf of my life and am just in the sort of mood to challenge strongly.

"This is a great course and I think it will really suit me although with the bounce unpredictable on a links course like this, there is certain to be some luck involved."

The man who beat Phil Michelson on the final afternoon of the Ryder Cup last year does not fear the household names in world golf - and that includes both Tiger Woods or Ernie Els.

"They are all there to be beaten and with the way I have been playing lately, I could well beat them," said the former Welsh amateur international.

Price is quite happy with his early start tomorrow of 7.25am where he partners Argentinian Angel Cabrera and American Charles Howell in the first round.

"It suits me fine," said Price. "I can post a good score and put pressure on others although an Open cannot be won in the first round but it can be lost."

Blackwood's Bradley Dredge practised yesterday with the legend Tom Watson and said: "I am confident. Everything is great. I am playing well and feeling good."

Dredge, a past Welsh amateur champion, has struck a rich vein of form lately and, while he is not going so far as to predict a victory, he believes he can do really well.

"My consistency has improved a lot and I am regularly in a position to challenge after two rounds these days. I am really looking forward to the action starting now."

Dredge is off tomorrow at 11.48 with Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty and American Chris Smith, immediately after the veteran Welshman Ian Woosnam who only got into this Open after chipping in on the first play-off hole at final qualifying.

Woosnam plays with Dudley Hart and Cornwall amateur Scott Godfrey.