 Woods has two US Open titles to his name |
Tiger Woods insisted he was fully focused on the US Open on his return after a nine-week lay-off. Woods has not played competitively since the Masters, following the death of his father Earl on 3 May.
The world number one said: "I'm here to win this championship and all my energy is going towards that - Dad would have wanted me to give it my best.
"The hardest thing was trying to get back - a lot of great memories I have with my dad are at the golf course."
Woods revealed he had not even touched a club for a month and initially had "no desire" to get back to the game.
He said: "When you have a long break, the first thing you work on is your fundamentals - grip, stance and posture - and I got those from my dad.
"It was a little more difficult than I expected, but at the same time it brought back a lot of great memories and I always ended up with a smile on my face."
 | I'm looking forward to competing because that's when everything else goes away |
Woods said it was a family tradition to play golf against his dad on Father's Day, and then get home in time to watch the last round of the US Open.
"I would try and beat my dad and then get back and watch the last nine holes," he added.
"It was a great day if I won, and not such a great day if I lost.
"I remember the first time I beat him was when I was 11. I shot 71 to his 72, and birdied 16 and 18, and we went home and celebrated."
Despite the unprecedented nine-week lay-off, Woods remains favourite for the title ahead of fierce rival Phil Mickelson, who has won the last two majors and is therefore going for the third leg of what has been dubbed the 'Mickelslam'.
Woods said: "It goes in runs (in majors), Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen and now Phil.
"As long as I can be part of that conversation it's never a bad thing.
"I'm looking forward to competing because that's when everything else goes away.
Woods is certain to receive plenty of vocal support from the noisy New York crowds, and the omens are good for a winning return.
"I think the two times I've taken my longest breaks have been after my knee surgery in 2002 and this past winter, and both times I've come back and won," he added.
"I'm very excited the way I've played the last couple of days and I'm looking forward to Thursday."
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