Golf: Woods ready for US Open despite long layoff

Tiger Woods believes he is ready for this week's US Open, despite returning from the longest break of his career.

His rivals agree, saying the world No 1 would never go into a major championship not fully prepared.

"I would expect him to be 100 per cent," US Masters champion Phil Mickelson said at Winged Foot Golf Club yesterday.

"He's had a lot of time now to work on his game, get sharp and focus in on just this one tournament and not have to worry about others.

"I've never seen a tournament where he has not been prepared to win, unfortunately.

"I think he's going to be very sharp this week, and I know how bad he wants to win another major.

"But there are also 155 guys in here that are going to be trying their darndest to win it themselves," added the American left-hander, who is bidding this week for a third consecutive major title.

Woods, US Open champion in 2000 and 2002, has not played tournament golf since tying for third at the Masters in April.

For much of that time, he has been grieving for his father Earl, who died on May 3 from cancer.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell, who won last year's US Open at Pinehurst, expects Woods to feel extra motivation at Winged Foot following the loss of his father.

"It's going to be hard for him because of his father passing away and we obviously feel for Tiger," Campbell said.

"But I believe he's going to benefit from it. He's going to say: 'Okay, look, he's still with me.'

"Not in the physical sense but somehow connected with him, so it's going to empower him somehow more than anything else."

Woods, whose father was a lifelong mentor, adviser and friend, has no doubts about his readiness for the second major of the year.

"I'm here to compete and play and try to win this championship," the 30-year-old American said.

"I know that dad would still want me to go out there and grind it and give it my best, and that's what I always do.

"That's what I will certainly try to do this week.

"If you're not focused 100 per cent on winning a championship, there's really no need to go play, so I didn't," he added, referring to his nine-week break.

"I didn't come back until I felt that I was ready to win a championship. And I've had plenty of time to get ready." Woods will launch his bid for the 11th major title of his career in the company of Campbell and US amateur champion Edoardo Molinari of Italy.

- REUTERS