All the signs point toward another Tiger Woods victory at next week’s U.S. Open in New York where the American world number one will be the overwhelming favourite in pursuit of his 15th major title.
The greatest player of his generation and arguably of all time, Woods builds his entire schedule around the grand slam events where his focus and motivation are second to none.
When he tees off in Thursday’s opening round at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course, he will be defending the title he won last year in a thrilling 19-hole playoff with compatriot Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines outside San Diego.
Defying stabbing pain in his left knee and a double stress fracture of his tibia, he gritted his way to a third U.S. Open victory before shutting down his campaign for the rest of 2008 to have reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
Woods, now fully recovered, is also the defending champion at Bethpage, having clinched the U.S. Open when it was staged there for the first time in 2002.
As for bringing form into the second major championship of the season, he has that totally sewn up after winning the Memorial tournament on Sunday in his most recent PGA Tour start.
“It was nice to play this well going into the U.S. Open,” Woods said after recording his 67th Tour victory by one shot in Dublin, Ohio.
“This is how you have to hit it in order to win U.S. Opens, especially Bethpage. That golf course is as big as they come. You have to hit the ball well all week. I did that in 2002.”
The brutal par-70 Bethpage Black layout became the longest U.S. Open course of all time for the 2002 edition, playing 7,214 yards off the back tees.
It has since been lengthened to 7,426 yards and will feature a 525-yard par-four seventh hole for the June 18-21 championship.
Length has never been a problem for Woods, who also relishes the U.S. Open emphasis on grinding out pars at the most relentless of the four majors.
“Bethpage is more than 7,400 yards long and I don’t know if he can totally put that thing away,” American Kenny Perry said of Woods. “But he could probably still play a three-wood off the tee and be just fine.”
Phil Mickelson, who finished second three strokes behind Woods at the 2002 U.S. Open, believes the Bethpage Black will present a tough but fair test next week.
“The golf course is awesome,” the American world number two said after practising at Bethpage on Tuesday.
“I’ve always loved the layout but the setup is perfect in that the fairway width is tough to hit but it’s fair. The rough is challenging but you can still play out of it.”
Fan favourite Mickelson can expect a rousing welcome at Bethpage where he will be competing in his second consecutive PGA Tour event since his wife Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.
Although a native Californian, the three-times major winner has always enjoyed playing in the New York area and likes his chances of a first U.S. Open victory.
“In 2002, Bethpage was an emotional experience for me,” Mickelson said. “I anticipate it being an emotional experience playing this year’s U.S. Open.
“I think Bethpage is a golf course that suits my game. My quest is to win my first U.S. Open after four seconds and numerous close calls, me caring about this tournament so much.”
As ever at a U.S. Open, the ability to minimise errors and to stay patient on slick greens and tight fairways flanked by thick, graduated rough will be defining traits in the make-up of next week’s champion.
Other candidates for victory at Bethpage include twice U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, 2006 winner Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and Irishman Padraig Harrington, who clinched the final two majors last year.
