Former world number one Tiger Woods says his recent performance at The Greenbrier Classic will be a big boost heading into the Open Championship at St Andrews on July 16-19.

The American ended the PGA tournament at Old White TPC in a tie for 32nd on seven-under-par and there were several positives to take from the overall display.

The 39-year-old showed signs of his previous best and finally, after making so many tweaks to his swing, the rhythm appeared to be back and the level of consistency was much higher.

The 14-time Major winner, who last won one of the ‘big four’ events in 2008 at the US Open, recorded a three-under-par 67 on the final day for his first bogey-free round in two years.

Putting was a slight issue for the American and, after needing just 25 putts in his opening-round 66, he had 32, 31 and 31 in the final three rounds, including six misses inside 15 feet Sunday.

Short-game aside though it has been a remarkable return to form for the 79-time PGA Tour winner, who has bounced back from the career-worst round of 85 recorded at The Memorial earlier this year.

Next up is the Open championship in Scotland, a major he has won three times, and Woods is feeling confident heading into the event at St Andrews.

“I made some nice strides heading into the British Open,” he told reporters. “I’ll do some good work next week and be ready come Thursday.”

World number two Jordan Spieth is aiming for a third successive major win this season, having clinched the Masters and US Open, and the American is priced at 29.00 to win all of the ‘big four’ this year while he is a 3.40 shot to win three.