Peter Cowen diary: Accuracy and a sharp short game will matter most this week

St Andrews, Scotland: My daily alarm is set just before 5 am every day as I get into the routine of my Open week.

And home very late. Fish and chips out of the paper, with perhaps a bottle of the local brew, is a treat at the end of these especially long days. I may be grab a sandwich on the range during the day, if my players are not too demanding of my time.

I have a 15 minute walk each morning from my modest student dormitory in the town to the range close to the 17th hole on the Old Course. It makes me think, after all The Opens and other events I have come to St Andrews and the surrounding courses, as both a player and coach, at these rental prices, it was almost worth me buying property In St Andrews as an investment.

This morning (Wednesday) there is absolutely no wind, which reminds me that the early starters on both Thursday and Friday can get very lucky.

I have 10 players in the field this week in no particular order:

Ian Poulter, Brooks Koepka, Danny Willett, Lee Westwood, Victor Perez, Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Pieters, Matt Fitzpatrick, coached by my buddy Mike Walker with my support, and a young English lad, Matt Jordan.

Power golf is not a factor this week, accuracy and keeping out of trouble very much is, as well as a very sharp and tidy short game, mixed with a healthy dose of good luck, with both the draw and a few members’ bounces.

A fast running Old Course can also get you into trouble. A statistic I heard on Monday evening is that 32 balls went OB beyond the green with drives. I cannot remember OB back of 18 ever being a consideration.

Now to my Peter Cowen thoughts on a winner.

I believe that both Matt Fitzpatrick and Padraig Harrington could be up there on Sunday night, and Danny Willett has form here. I also feel that Brooks Koepka is in good shape having finished in the Top 10 last time The Open was at St Andrews.

For the non-Cowen players: I am not sure that Tiger Woods is ready, after not much tournament golf in recent months, but I would love to be proved wrong.

Dubai based Polish golfer Adrian Meronk had the fortune to play a back nine practice round with Tiger on Tuesday, what a treat for the 29 year-old.

Adrian has a great career ahead of him, I have been watching him on Tour, he is very strong but this is only his second major, so this week may all be about gaining more experience.

Of the others in the field, 2015 Champion Zach Johnson, Justin Rose, Adam Scott, 2010 Champion Louis Oosthuizen, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose could all have good weeks and have done well in previous Opens and here at St Andrews. I have never been a gambler so I have gone for safety in numbers with my picks.

But if I had one pick, make that two picks, for the 2022 Champion Golfer of the Year it would be Fitzpatrick and Harrington.

The winning score?

Tiger won here in 2000 on 19 under-par for a record eight stroke victory. I predict that will be beaten with a 21-under par winning score, with Harrington beating Fitzpatrick in the four-hole play-off.

Good luck to all and am I only dreaming? But remember that St Andrews always comes up with unique moments in the history of golf.

I am sure this year will be no exception.

Enjoy the watch and speak soon.

- Peter Cowen is a world-renowned golf coach with academies in the UAE and England.