La Jolla, California - You don't have to be Rick Dutrow Jr to be cocky about Tiger Woods' chances at the US Open. After all, the Open is at Torrey Pines, where Woods has won seven tournaments in his golf career. After all, this is TW, who has won 13 major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus. After all, this is not rocket science.
Under normal circumstances, all signs would point to Woods winning this third US Open, and first since 2002 at Bethpage Black. Problem is, Dutrow has been wrong before - reference Big Brown and the Belmont Stakes.
Problem is, as far as the 108th playing of the US Open is concerned, "normal circumstances" is an operative term. Woods is playing after a two-month layoff and rehabilitation for his surgically repaired left knee.
And he when tees off in the Dream Team pairing on Thursday, joined by Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott for the 1506 GMT starting time on Thursday, Woods himself isn't sure what to expect.
"I haven't played in a while ... competitively since the Masters," he acknowledged. "So getting out there and getting into the flow, and dealing with the adrenaline, dealing with the juices flying ... all these different things that a lot of guys have been dealing with for a little bit and I haven't. I'm excited about it."
Whether that adrenaline and anticipation will translates into major championship caliber performance remains to be seen. One thing is certain, Mickelson, who was last paired with Woods in a major at the 2006 PGA Championship, has no plans to spot his celebrated rival any strokes.
"You know, I think that he has come back from injury and won the first week back in the past," Mickelson said. "He takes a bunch of time off before his tournament out in L.A. there, and he comes out and wins. I just don't think it will be a problem."
During a press conference on Tuesday, Woods acknowledged his knee is not completely recovered. There are certain shots that might cause irritation and he has not yet tested it by walking 18 holes. But he also made it clear he is not overly concerned about how it might hold up at Torrey Pines.
For Woods, the public facility on the Southern California bluffs facing the Pacific Ocean are a second home. "I feel very good about coming in and playing," Woods said. "I feel good about my practices, my preparation, coming back to a golf course I have had some success at.
"It's just a matter of getting into the competitive rhythm of the round quicker. When I played Winged Foot after a long layoff, I didn't get into the flow of the round for three or four holes. You can't do that."
In 2006, after taking two months off to grieve the death of this father, Woods missed the cut at Winged Foot, making that US Open the first and only premature major championship exit of his professional career.
But Woods should have no trouble getting into his round on Thursday, being paired with Mickelson and Scott, a group that featured the top-three ranked players in the world.
"I like it," Woods said, with a smile. "I think it's exciting for the fans, exciting for the players ... We usually don't (play together). We are usually spread out. You don't get pairings like that Saturday and Sunday."
Mickelson has won two Masters and a PGA Championship, but he is still looking for his first US Open. He also likes the star-studded pairing.
"I think it's awesome," said Mickelson, who turns 38 on Monday. "I wish that we had it more. I haven't, in the past, liked the way the PGA Tour puts (the top-ranked players) on opposite ends every week.
"I think it's great that a major championship has us paired together, because usually one end of the tee times has an advantage over the other ... I like the fact that we are at least on the same wave, at least we are paired together.
"I love how it turned out that last time we were paired together and hope to have a similar result."
Mickelson was pointing to the 2007 Deutsche Bank Championship, when Woods and he were paired together in the final round. "Lefty" fired a 5-under par 66 to out-duel Woods and win the tournament.
Mickelson, a San Diego native, also can claim his share of success at Torrey Pines. He has had three professional wins on the course and he will have the benefit of the hometown fans urging him on. "This is a tournament I know and I believe I can win," said Mickelson, who has two PGA Tour wins this season.
"I think that this golf course gives me the best opportunity available to do that. Winning this tournament would be something that would help define my career."
