US Open
Venue: Pebble Beach, California Dates: 17-20 June
Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones, with updates on BBC Radio 5 live and live coverage from 2200 BST On Sunday; also live on Sky Sports
 Woods will attempt to win his 15th major when he tees off at Pebble Beach
Tiger Woods heads into this week's US Open insisting his career is finally returning to normal after seven turbulent months in his personal life. The 34-year-old will be playing just his fifth tournament since returning to competition after a well-publicised leave of absence. "Things are certainly getting better," the world number one said. "Getting back into the competitive atmosphere...has certainly become much more normal." Woods abandoned the golf course at the end of last year following numerous revelations about his extra-marital affairs. In a bid to rebuild his marriage to Elin, the mother of his two young children, he went into therapy and only returned to competition at the Masters in April, tieing fourth. He missed the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship in May and withdrew during The Players Championship the following week with a neck injury. The American will attempt to win his 15th major when he tees off at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Thursday.  | I haven't been here in about eight years, so it's great to be back Tiger Woods on his return to Pebble Beach |
He added: "I'm starting to find out how much I can and can't push myself each and every day as far as practice [is concerned]. "I overdid it, overcooked it right before Augusta, trying to get ready, and certainly I learned my lesson there." Woods's personal life was firmly off-limits during his press conference. When asked about the status of his marriage, he replied: "That's none of your business." Woods was happier to discuss his return to Pebble Beach, the scene of his record 15-shot US Open victory in 2000, but much-changed following redevelopment overseen by Arnold Palmer. The course has been lengthened by 194 yards and toughened up with new greens, changes to 11 bunkers and the reshaping of fairways and rough. "I haven't been here in I believe about eight years now, so it's great to be back," Woods reflected. "It's interesting to see the golf course, how much it has changed, some of the redesigns that they have had. "Different strategies, different shots, and obviously it's playing a lot firmer than it does here in February [for the annual PGA Tour event]. "So the greens are starting to get a little bit more springy, starting to come to life now, and it's probably going to get more springy as the days go on." Woods is "very close" to his best form as he prepares for Pebble Beach, according to his practice partner Arjun Atwal. The pair are neighbours in Florida and often play together and Atwal is amazed at the improvement in Woods's game. "His practices have been really good the last couple of weeks at home. Every day it has got better," Atwal commented. "He feels he is very close. It is just a matter of when the bell goes off if he can do it then. I think he will." Indian Atwal, who has won seven Asian Tour titles and three events on the European Tour, feels Woods is in the right frame of mind to add to his 14 major victories. | 606: DEBATE |
"He is close, very close," Atwal continued. "In fact Sunday was a lot better and then Monday got a lot better than yesterday. It's amazing the improvement." Woods will need a decent showing at the coastal Pebble Beach course in California if he is to extend his spell as world number one beyond his current five-year run. He spent five unbroken years as the leading golfer in the world between August 1999 and September 2004 before swapping the title with Fiji's Vijay Singh several times over the following six months. Woods took over the mantle again on 12 June, 2005 but in recent months Phil Mickelson has been closing in. Left-handed Mickelson, who won a third Masters title this year, will usurp Woods if he wins the US Open. Mickelson, who turns 40 on the eve of Thursday's opening round, has never won the year's second major, but has finished second on five occasions. And second place on his own this year would be enough to catapult him to the top of the world rankings if Woods finishes outside the top four. Should Woods make the cut but finish outside the top 18, Mickelson would need to finish no worse than third on his own, and if Woods misses the cut, his fellow American would need to finish no worse than a two-way tie for third to lead the rankings. Woods has been grouped with the in-form world number three Lee Westwood and two-time US Open champion Ernie Els for his opening two rounds. "We'll have a lot of people watching us and a lot of attention," Els said. "If we get a bit of momentum going in the group as a whole, it could really pull along the others. "We'll be watching each other but you can only take care of your own game and hopefully we can have two good days and be in contention by Saturday."
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