Tiger Woods 'good to go' on long U.S. Open course

LA JOLLA -- Tiger Woods hasn't walked 18 holes since the final round of the Masters in April, but he insisted today that he'll be ready to go once the first round of the U.S. Open gets underway Thursday at Torrey Pines.

Woods, who finished second to Trevor Immelman at Augusta National and had surgery on his left knee the following Tuesday, played only nine holes Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on the monstrous 7,643-yard South course.

"I'm good to go," said Woods, who is trying to win his 14th major championship on a course that is the longest in U.S. Open history by nearly 400 yards. It is also the longest major ever.

"Come game time, I'll be ready."

When asked again about the status of his knee and whether he has had to make adjustments in his swing or preparation because of its condition, the world's No. 1 player simply said, "It's feeling better."

Woods has won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines six times, the last four years in a row, and he won a junior world title here as a teenager in 1991, but he has had less success in the U.S. Open. He's won the Masters and the PGA Championship four times each, the British Open three times, but the U.S. Open only twice, in 2000 and 2002. He was quick to point out, though, that he has played well in this tournament without winning.

"I've had less wins," he said, "but . . . I've had a lot of high finishes in U.S. Opens. . . .

"If you look at my record, it's actually been pretty good over the years. I've only won one since 2000, but I've been there on the back nine on most of them."

Since his victory in the 2002 Open at Bethpage Black in New York, he has finished tied for 20th, tied for 17th, and tied for second in 2005 and 2007. He missed the cut in 2006, playing for the first time in two months after the death of his father, Earl.

Woods had hoped to play in the Memorial tournament two weeks ago as a tuneup for the Open, but his knee hadn't progressed far enough. So he's jumping right in at the major that has given him the most trouble.

"I wanted to play at the Memorial," he said, "to get back and get used to the rhythm and the flow of competitive play. . . . So I just had to change my training a little bit and make sure I was ready for this one."

Asked whether he had any concern that by Sunday, after four rounds of 18 holes battling difficult Open conditions, his lack of play could be a factor, he responded simply:

"No, I'll be fine."

And with his record, who's to doubt him?

mike.james@latimes.com