BBC SPORT | Golf | USPGA | Woods targets USPGA title

BBC Sport Online looks ahead to the final Major of the year - the USPGA Championship.

Tiger Woods will be seeking to erase the horror show of the Open from his memory when he tees off in the 84th USPGA Championship on Thursday.

Woods, who recorded a career-worst 81 in the the third round at Muirfield, finished well outside the top 10 in what was one of the biggest sporting shocks of the year.

However the 26-year-old took one step closer to rehabilitation by winning the Buick Open - the last event before the USPGA.

In a year that has already seen him win two Majors - the US Masters and US Open - the Californian star will want to end with a flourish with victory at Hazeltine.

Woods takes first Buick title

Should Woods hold aloft the USPGA crown come Sunday, then it would be his third Championship in four years, although that would not be the only history created.

"It would rank right up there to win three Majors in a year and do it twice," he said, looking to repeat the feat achieved in 2000.

Toms will be looking to repeat his effort of last year
"It's already been a successful year and I would like to make it more successful."

Woods will be paired with Open champion Ernie Els and last year's USPGA winner David Toms in the first two rounds at Hazeltine.

Toms, who set a championship record last year with his 15-under-par 265 total, proved that he is no flash-in-the-pan with another impressive year on the PGA Tour.

Els, who leads the Volvo Order of Merit, is also riding high following his victory at last month's Open.

The South African faces a tough battle to take the title away from American hands, although the Europeans, as a whole, face a stiffer task.

The last time a player from Europe won the title was back in 1930 when Scotland's Tommy Armour lifted the Rodman Wanamaker trophy.

Sergio Garcia looks to be the player most likely to break the hoodoo.

Rose plays his first American Major
The Spaniard won the first event on the PGA Tour this year and has finished in the top 10 in 2002's other three Majors.

One player who may also feature in the run-in is British number one Justin Rose, who will be competing at his first US Major.

The 22-year-old has won four titles this season, although he is best remembered for finishing fourth, as an amateur, in the 1998 Open at Royal Birkdale.

Rose turned professional soon after the Open, but suffered from the change in environment - missing 21 consecutive cuts.

But the Hampshire player persevered and found himself playing alongside Woods at the 2002 Open.

"Now I am ready to move to a high level in golf," said Rose.

"I am in the world's top 50 which makes me eligible for all the Majors and world championship events and I want to start challenging for them."


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