We may or may not end up with a classic, but nobody can dispute that the stage is perfectly set for the 135th Open Championship.
Royal Liverpool, one of the finest links courses in the British Isles, is hosting for the first time since 1967, the weather is predicted to be close to perfect and the world's two best golfers are spoiling for a scrap.
The shades of 1977, when Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson went head to head for four unforgettable rounds at Turnberry, are unmistakeable as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson prepare for a tournament that could define how their sport evolves over the next decade.
Mickelson, for so long obliged to nurture his talent within the confines of the shadow cast by his younger compatriot, has won two out of the last three major titles and was painfully close to making it three in a row at last month's US Open, where Tiger missed a major cut for the first time as a pro.
Yet it is Woods who will tee off on Thursday as the favorite to win his first British Open title away from St Andrews.
The bookmakers seem convinced that his second place at the recent Western Open signals he is ready to reclaim his status as the sport's dominant force following the death of his father, Earl, in early May.
Woods had his first prowl around Hoylake on Saturday and returned for second helpings in the early hours of Sunday.
With another four days to go until the action gets underway, that may sound like more than enough preparation.
But it is worth remembering that Mickelson was here for several days last month and skipped last week's Scottish Open to ensure he really got familiar with the course.
Woods however is doubtful as to whether such intensive preparation can really make a difference.
"We play around the world and learn different golf courses in a day or two," he said. "I think people are making too big a deal out of the fact that the tournament hasn't been played at Hoylake since 1967."
That remark may well have been a jibe at Mickelson, who is certainly leaving nothing to chance this year, having managed only only one top 10 finish in 13 challenges at the world's oldest major.
It is certainly the case that Woods will not lose too much sleep over the prospect of a challenge emanating from anyone other than Mickelson, although the build-up to this year's tournament offered encouragement for the likes of Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald.
Els continues to bemoan his lack of form but was still good enough to get to within four shots of the winner at the Scottish Open at the weekend. A bit of confidence with the putter and the South African could suddenly be a force to be reckoned with again.
Donald meanwhile has taken heart from the fact that he goes into the tournament having not dropped a shot for his last 42 holes.
"It's about time a European won a major again," he said. "And no bogeys all weekend is encouraging for next week and I want to win it as much as anyone else."
Ever the positive thinker, Montgomerie described the absence of a challenge from him during the business end of the Scottish Open as a good thing.
Montgomerie, who missed out on a US Open win last month with a double bogey at the last hole, claimed: "It's tiring winning. Sometimes it's not good to."
Rest assured, that is not a sentiment the 43-year-old Scot would apply to this week's tournament.
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