HOYLAKE, England — Tiger Woods has never reacted well to criticism, real or imagined, of his golf game, particularly from his peers. Perhaps that explains why his pairing with six-time major champion Nick Faldo in the first two rounds of the 135th British Open tomorrow and Friday has drawn such keen interest, particularly in the British tabloids.

They'll have more delicious dish after Woods made it quite clear yesterday he has no plans to stroll down the baked brown fairways of Royal Liverpool chatting with the aging hero of British golf. Woods has not spoken to the part-time ABC analyst in 18 months after Faldo criticized on national television a poor swing that nearly cost Woods the Buick Invitational title in 2005.

"A complete fan and miss," Faldo said that day in San Diego, before proceeding to point out the flaws in Woods' swing in slow-motion detail. Woods birdied the hole and won the tournament.

"We really don't talk much," Woods said with a smirk when asked about his relationship with the 49-year-old Englishman, who won the last of his three Open titles at Muirfield in 1992 and finished 11th last year at St. Andrews.

Will they be conversing at all tomorrow and Friday?

"I've only played with him two times since I've been a pro, and there wasn't a lot of talking there, either," Woods said. "It's up to him. I'll be in my world trying to compete and trying to win the championship and I'm sure he'll probably do the same thing."

Faldo made no apologies for his comments, as Woods no doubt also has noticed. "I'm paid for my opinions and I'm entitled to them," Faldo said here on Monday. "As long as it's entertaining and I get a check at the end of the month, I'm not too bothered."

Informed of Woods' comments earlier in the day, Faldo said yesterday: "What history? I was just doing what I was paid to do. I mean, if I compliment him, nobody says anything, do they? ... I don't see that there is any problem."

Still, Woods' comments and demeanor yesterday seemed indicative of his current state of mind. Once again, his world seems to be spinning on its proper golfing axis after the May 2 death of his father, Earl. A month earlier, he missed his first cut as a professional in a major championship at the Winged Foot U.S. Open. Two weeks later he charged up the board at the Western Open in Chicago, nearly pulling out a victory with a 66-68 on his final 36 holes before finishing second to South African Trevor Immelman.

If Faldo happens to be the catalyst that propels the No. 1 player in the word to his 11th major championship, it wouldn't be the first time Woods has used a perceived insult to get his juices flowing. Remember the "Tiger Who" stitched on the back of a hat worn by Vijay Singh's caddy at the 2000 Presidents Cup in Northern Virginia? Woods dusted Singh in singles that day and made it perfectly obvious afterward he didn't much like the looper's lid.

How about Woods' performance against Stephen Ames in the first round of the World Match Play in February? Woods read in the local paper that Ames thought he at least had a chance for an upset because Woods hadn't been driving the ball all that straight in recent weeks. Final outcome: the most lopsided thrashing in tournament history, a 9 and 8 Woods victory.

Obviously, a British Open with 156 players in the field is hardly a match-play situation, but Woods, the defending champion, is already the bookmakers' top choice.

Woods, as always going into any major, also likes his chances this week.

He also said yesterday he's been able to "come to terms" with his father's death, and "there's no doubt about that. He's not here anymore. It's not like I can pick up the phone and call him and say, 'Pop, what do you think about my putting stroke?' "

Woods said he's enjoyed playing Hoylake since arriving here over the weekend, and already has made one significant adjustment in his golf bag.

He'll take out his 5-wood and put in a 2-iron, which he plans to hit frequently off the tee this week, a low trajectory "stinger" that should roll forever on Hoylake's fiery fairways.

"We certainly don't ever play a golf course this fast," Woods said. "If the wind doesn't blow (none is forecast), you can make some birdies out here. The par 5s are reachable (in two shots) and there are some short par 4s out here. You can get the ball in pretty close. If the wind stays down, I'm sure the guys will be making plenty of birdies here."