Those thinking he will eat up the demanding links course were swiftly disavowed as Woods spoke of a demanding set-up which encourages accuracy and punishes waywardness off the tee.
He played only nine holes yesterday, along with American professional Bob Garza, but it was enough to give Woods food for thought.
"It's a tough track. The fairways are extremely narrow, especially after Kapalua [where Woods played last week] where it was 130 yards wide at the 18th.
"It's going to be very difficult to keep the ball in play and if you are out [of bounds], with this rough you are not going to shoot a very good score.
"These greens are tough to read. It's going to be a real challenge, but a fun challenge as well."
Woods took his time playing several chips from close range on his two-hour workout yesterday.
"I try to get the feel for how the grass is. That's why I chip a lot, seeing how much bounce to use through the ball. I've played in grass like this, but it's very different to where I played last week."
Woods had no problem flying overnight from Hawaii, driving out to Paraparaumu Beach, playing nine holes, doing a press conference then attending a dinner for the Steve Williams Foundation last night.
"This was probably one of the easiest flights for us. It's the most ideal situation I've had. We lost a day, that's about it."
Told that the TAB had rated the world No 1 an overwhelming $1.70 favourite for the Open title, with the second line of betting at $10, Woods was unimpressed.
"If you think of circumstances like that you do yourself an injustice on the course.
"When I'm out there playing, I don't think about anything but the shot in hand."
Woods would not buy into the issue of who was most likely to challenge him this week.
A broad range of leading contenders would include hardy Australians Craig Parry, Peter O'Malley and Lucas Parsons, and New Zealand's top trio Greg Turner, Craig Perks and Michael Campbell.
However, Woods steered clear of naming names.
"When I come to a tournament I come to win. If you are not in the final group [on the final afternoon] you get there. It's irrelevant who is in the final group and in with a chance - as long as you are.
"Everyone in the field will have that as their ultimate goal."
Victory on Sunday would be his 41st worldwide - including 29 on the US PGA Tour, with six majors along the way.
Woods was amused to receive applause when the first ball he struck yesterday had barely left the club on the 10th tee, just as he was when he got the same treatment after raking the 18th bunker.
"I was trying to save Stevie for the tournament," he said referring to caddie Steve Williams." I don't want him to hurt his back."
As if he won't have plenty of support already this week, Woods probably also gained new backers when he was asked if it was correct that he liked to return to defend titles he had won the previous year.
"Yes."
Woods' preparation will begin in earnest, after today's pro-am, when he sits down with Williams tonight. And he's aware that the estimated 20,000 expected here tomorrow could be in for a drenching if the weather experts are right.
"We'll run through the course and see what we have to do."
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