Some things have remained constant for Tiger Woods since the last US Open and some things have changed but it is the latter that has the world’s best player in a winning frame of mind.

Woods is preparing for his 13th US Open and is tracking his 13th major championship at Oakmont, which by all accounts will be as much a brutal test of survival as of golfing prowess.

But Woods is not concerned about the heavy rough or church bunkers, and not even the treacherous greens have him alarmed.

Those come with the territory at a US Open and are much easier to deal with than the circumstances that faced him at Winged Foot last year.

Last year, Woods arrived at the tournament with much more than golf on his mind for it was only about a month after his father Earl died of cancer.

Woods did not play between The Masters and Winged Foot last year, choosing instead to spend what time he had left with his father.

The upshot was missing the cut in a major as a professional for the first time.

“Last year was a complete 180 of where I am now in my life,” Woods said. “I had not played a tournament since Augusta.

“Last year my father, obviously, passed away in that time frame. I wasn’t quite ready to play until I got to the US Open - probably not the best tournament to come back to.

“So this year, I am going to be a father shortly and I think it’s a complete polar opposite of where I was last year at this time.”

Woods and his wife Elin’s first child is due next month, but first Woods will try to secure his third US Open title and he seems eager to get started.

“I think it’s fantastic,” Woods said of the course, despite predictions the winner will be well over par.

“The golf course is without a doubt difficult, but it’s also fair. I just think we’re going to have to see on the pin locations. If they put pins in generous spots, I think it will just be a fantastic test.”

And Woods is pretty good about passing tests.

He responded to missing the cut at Winged Foot by winning The Open and PGA Championship. The 31-year-old has won two majors in each of the past two seasons and four of the last nine.

Last year, Woods was a sympathetic figure coming into the US Open.

Now he is back to being a favourite despite missing a golden opportunity to add another major championship at Augusta, where he briefly held the lead in the final round but could not mount a charge coming home to overtake Zach Johnson.

Woods, who has three wins in eight PGA Tour events this season, tied for second at The Masters because he was not able to put his full game together long enough. He knows he will have to do so here to contend.

He said: “I didn’t hit it well on Thursday and Friday at Augusta and, on the weekend I hit it good but I didn’t make as many putts as I would like, especially on the back nine on Sunday.

“I just didn’t get it done but at least I was there and had a chance.”

Woods should have a better chance than most players in the field this week as he looks to take another step toward Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record of 18.

Of all the majors, the US Open is the one Woods has won the least but two victories is certainly better than none.

“It’s not an easy championship, it’s probably the most difficult championship we face all year because you’re tested from tee to green and then you’re tested on the greens,” Woods said.

“Generally, if you are missing one facet of your game, more than likely you’re not going to win the championship. You have to have everything going.”

That will be made all the more difficult by the course, which features a nearly 300-yard par three and two par- fives, each of which will be more than 600 yards long.

Throw in fairways so narrow a supermodel would have trouble walking down them sideways and rough you could lose a small dog in, it is surprising Woods could even joke about what hole he is actually looking forward to playing.

“Yeah, the 19th.It’s great man,” he said.

Source - www.sportimglife.com