Golf Events / Editor / 12 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

Tiger Woods believes the notoriously difficult Oakmont Country Club could provide the biggest challenge to his hopes of winning the US Open for a third time.

The Pennsylvania course is widely regarded as one of the toughest in golf and is certain to claim a few casualties when the tournament gets underway on Thursday, with US star Woods having already indicated that he expects to use his driver sparingly.
Oakmont's 667-yard 12th hole will become the longest par five in US Open history while its 288-yard eighth hole will take over as the longest par three.

Woods, who made his second visit to Oakmont last week, accepts his quest to land a third Major victory in four starts is likely to be made all the more difficult by the unforgiving course.

"It's probably the hardest US Open course I have ever played," said the 31-year-old, who is the predictable 4.2 favourite on Betfair's "US Open - Winner" market.

"Driving will be a key. Most fairways are only about 26 yards wide and the rough is brutal in places.

"I see myself hitting only five or six drivers and using a lot of stinger three-woods off the tee for position," added the 12-time Major winner, who won the US Open at Pebble Beach in 2000 and Bethpage Black in 2002.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, who won last year's US Open at Winged Foot after benefiting from late collapses by Phil Mickelson (13.5) and Colin Montgomerie (130), is available to back at 40.

Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk are both on offer at 21, while Englishman Luke Donald, whose consistent driving should see him avoid the rough, is available to back at 38.