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By Tiger Woods
Special to PGATOUR.com

I'm getting ready to leave for the British Open, which starts next week at Carnoustie. As an amateur, I played Scottish Opens there in 1995 and 1996, and thought it was one of the best courses I've ever played. Then, I came back and played the Open Championship in 1999 and my opinion changed.

Tiger Woods was frustrated by the tough Carnoustie set-up in 1999. (WireImage)

Although I tied for seventh, it was probably the hardest British Open course I have ever played -- even harder than Muirfield. The set-up was unfair and ridiculous. I remember stepping off the fairway at No. 6 and it was nine yards wide in the lay up area. That's not much room when you have to hit a 4-iron in that space. It's still a great course, but I hope the R&A has learned a lesson.

The 17th hole is a little weird, as well. There are two burns that you have to fit the ball between. Down-wind, it becomes a very tricky tee shot. I know they have been getting a lot of rain in Scotland, so I don't know how the set up is going to be. We'll just have to see.

I will say this: the British Open Championship is my favorite major. My first was at St. Andrews so it doesn't get much better than that. I just love the history, tradition and atmosphere. You need patience and imagination to play well, plus the fans are great. I'm really looking forward to next week.

Someone reminded me that I could become only the second player to win three-straight Claret Jugs. That's nice, but I'm not thinking about it. You just stay focused on what you have to do. One takes care of three.

Obviously, last year's win at Royal Liverpool in England was very emotional after losing my father two months earlier. I played so well from tee to green and actually led the tournament in driving accuracy and finished second in greens in regulation. I stuck to my game-plan, put my driver away and plodded my way around the course.

This year, things are different. I'm a father now, and couldn't wait to get back to Florida to see my wife and new daughter after last week's inaugural AT&T National in Washington D.C. I can't put into words how excited I am to be a dad. On the night Sam Alexis was born, Elin and I were talking about how strange it is to love something so much that didn't exist the day before. We never experienced anything like it and hope to experience it again.

Being away from them for a week was tough. At night, I woke up every 45 minutes, thinking it was time for a diaper change or a feeding. And yes, I have changed diapers. Hey, it is what it is.

To read more of Tiger's blog, check out tigerwoods.com.