With Tiger Woods back at home in Americas resting his injured knee, there is a more 'open' feel to the competition with the world number one absent.

Storm will be hoping he is among the challengers to be lifting the claret jug come Sunday night at Southport.

The 30-year-old will be looking to find some consistency to go with some sensational scoring.

Storm has produced some excellent rounds on the PGA European Tour over recent weeks but has not converted it into success.

He began the BMW International in Germany with rounds of 68 and 69 but ended up 16th and made a great start to the defence of his French Open only to slip back to 21st.

At the European Open at London Golf Club, he shot a second-day 66 but finished 53rd while he suffered a rare missed cut at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

"I've been struggling a bit of late," he admitted.

" I've been up in the top 20 and had some good scoring but then the last couple of rounds have been not so great.

"At the Scottish Open, it was a bit disappointing and I didn't get the result I was hoping for, but I don't think I played as badly as my scores suggest.

"My confidence is not how I'd like it to be, but if I perform like I did when I went to America and finished sixth then I'm capable of a similar performance.

"If I do that then I could do well and have a great end to the season."