Woods takes aim at Olympic
Three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods said the Olympic Club in San Francisco feels like a whole new golf course.
"My charts are all outdated because they've resurfaced every green. I had to do a whole new book. The eighth hole is obviously different from what we played. It's weird playing two holes -- one a par-5, one a par-4 -- the same distance. One and 17. Two of the last three holes being par-5 ... there's a premium on driving the ball."
The last time Woods played Olympic in tournament competition, he finished a frustrated 14th.
Woods, the 2008 Open champion who also has a pair of second-place finishes in the event since 2005, is paired Phil Mickelson and Master's champion Bubba Watson beginning on the ninth hole Thursday at 10:33 a.m. ET. Woods said he's gone head-to-head more against Ernie Els, but called the repeat of a 2008 major pairing with Mickelson exciting.
"I don't think you talk about a lot. This is a major championship. We've got work to do.
"This is one of the tournaments where guys talk the least to each other. ... There's such a premium on placing the golf ball. This is a tournament where guys least conversate."
Woods played a practice round with college teammate Casey Martin Tuesday before he took questions about his "comeback" and whether he had to win a major tournament to end discussion about whether he's returned to his elite form.
"Then it'll be: 'But you're not to 18 (majors) yet,'" said Woods, a 14-time major champion. "I've dealt with that my whole career."
Woods, who also played a practice round early Monday, said it was great to see Martin, who he said was happy and in a really good place, more than he was as a player on the tour.
"The everyday pain he lives with -- he doesn't show it, doesn't talk about it," Woods said. "I saw it in college. He was my roommate on the road sometimes. I don't know how he did it. For him just to try to play the tour is amazing. ... The pain threshold you have to have, and you look at him and he's just so happy. That's what makes him special. That's what makes him different from everyone else, he was such a strong will."
Woods believes he can play and win well into his 40s, citing Vijay Singh's 30 wins in the decade of his 40s. Woods hits the U.S. Open with 73 wins at age 36. By comparison, Jack Nicklaus won his 73rd event at 46. Woods' quest to track down Nicklaus' record of 18 major victories.
Woods said he has time, and isn't pressing with the record in mind.
"That's the great thing about golf," Woods said.
