Woods returns to action in Ohio for the first time since May

Tiger Woods will step up preparations for the defence of his US Open title with a return to tournament play in the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Woods, 33, will play for the first time since the Players Championship last month when he tees off on Thursday.

The world number one is working his way back to full fitness after an eight-month lay-off due to knee surgery.

"I'm really looking forward to competing again," Woods said in his monthly newsletter.

"I've been working hard on my game since the Players Championship."

Woods, who won the Memorial Tournament in 1999, 2000 and 2001, has recorded five top-10 finishes, including victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, in six Tour starts since returning from injury.

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"(That record) isn't too bad considering how long I was away from the game after my knee surgery," he added.

"It's just frustrating when you're in position to win and don't get it done. I just need more repetitions.

"I just need to fine-tune everything. My reconstructed left knee enables me to finally make the swing that my instructor, Hank Haney, and I have been working on for years."

Woods will be attempting to win his 15th major when he defends his US Open Crown at Bethpage from 18-21 June.

"The US Open will be here soon. I'm definitely going to try to go to Bethpage to play and take a look at the course," he added.

"They've made a few changes since I won there in 2002 and I want to check them out."

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