The partners from hell or just another inconvenience to overcome? These were the thoughts that passed through Lee Westwood's mind when he heard that he must play in the first two rounds of the Open with Tiger Woods, the world No1, and Ryo Ishikawa, a talented young Japanese, who has a huge following.

It is natural to suggest this is a bad draw for the Englishman because of all the commotion that will be surrounding him. He may be used to playing with Woods. Indeed, he was paired with the American in the last group on the final day of last year's

US Open and matched him stroke for stroke before finishing third.

“The last group in the last round of the US Open is exactly where you want to be,” Westwood said. “If it is with Tiger, even better. We talk about what anyone else would talk about - the weather and Nottingham Forest. Tiger probably thinks it's a golf course. I find it a positive experience. A lot of people have been intimidated by him, but he is quite nice to watch and you can feed off how good he is.”

But the Royal and Ancient has added to the entourage that will accompany Woods and Westwood by including the Japanese prodigy, who has as big a following as the world No1, and perhaps even bigger. There could well be moments when Westwood feels like the film star who arrives at a premiere after Angelina Jolie and before Brad Pitt. “I saw Ryo at the matchplay event in Tucson and he had 60 journalists following him around even though he wasn't even playing there,” Westwood said.

What has Westwood done to deserve being paired with two men who bring such potential distractions with them? Does one detect the large hand of commercialism in this? Presumably, the lure of the world No1 and Ishikawa, 17, will ring some commercial tills in the Far East, not to mention attract a good many television viewers.

Yet it is a sign of Westwood's maturity and strength of mind that he refuses to admit to any concern. “I was pleased when I saw the draw,” the world No17 said. “I have always played pretty well when I have played with Tiger. I played with him and Greg Norman at this tournament at Troon for a couple of rounds and it is a great atmosphere.

“You carry the biggest crowds around with you, so I am really looking forward to Thursday and Friday. I'd like to think that after 16 years, and having played with Tiger a lot, that I am experienced enough to concentrate on my own game and enjoy the experience.

“Ryo is an exciting prospect. It is going to be a big stage for him. I don't know if he has played with Tiger before, but he is here by right and if you are experiencing those things at 17, he has a big step up the ladder.”

Westwood was speaking after he had received the Golf Foundation's Spirit of Golf Award for his contribution to, and support of, junior grassroots golf. He sounded genuinely proud to accept a trophy that was shaped like the claret jug that will be given to the winner of the Open on Sunday and joked: “It resembles what I would like to have my hands on at the end of the week.”

Westwood is a good supporter of the Golf Foundation because he came up through its competitions and is genuinely gratified at the considerable and often unsung work that the organisation does for junior golfers.

“I won age-group championships at 15 and 16 and that gave me the confidence to go on,” he said.

But he never went through what Matteo Manassero, the 16-year-old Italian, will experience on Thursday and Friday. Manassero, who won the Amateur Championship at Formby last month, will play with Sergio García, the world No5 and a past amateur champion, and Tom Watson, 59, the oldest man in the field.

Watson may be pushing 60, but, as Justin Rose found when paired with him in last year's Open, he plays quickly, talks quickly and thinks quickly - and often encourages his playing partners to speed up as well. In the coming days, Manassero may be given a lesson in more than just striking the ball.