Tiger Woods returns to Pebble Beach 10 years after triumph

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - The last time he walked onto the 18th green of a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Tiger Woods hoisted the trophy and celebrated the most lopsided victory ever in the national championship.

Ten years later, Woods is back at one of the most beautiful venues in golf but not bearing much resemblance to the dominant player who left in 2000 with his first of three U.S. Open titles.

The winner of 14 major championships, four off the hallowed record of Jack Nicklaus, Woods spent nearly five months away from competition to deal with a shattered personal life brought about by infidelity. He returned in April at the Masters but has played in only four tournaments while slowed by a neck injury.

Woods put a quick end to questions about his shaky marriage at a news conference Tuesday, telling one reporter, "That's none of your business" when asked if there was any resolution with wife Elin.

As for golf, Woods said he feels his game is coming around despite the fact that he has played only 13 competitive rounds this year. Since withdrawing from the Players Championship on May 9 with an inflamed joint in his neck, he has participated in only one event - the Memorial, where he tied for 19th place.

"I'm very excited about how it's progressed since before Memorial, then obviously during Memorial," Woods said. "Now here it's gotten better. The more time I've been able to practice and play, it's started to solidify, and I'm actually really excited to tee it up on Thursday."

Woods' performance at Pebble Beach in 2000 was one for the ages. He fired a blistering 65 in the opening round and then gradually increased his lead, closing with a 67 for a 12-under score of 272 and a 15-stroke victory. It was the lowest score in relation to par and the widest winning margin in Open history.

Phil Mickelson, who finished tied for 16th that year, called it "the greatest performance I've ever seen in the game.

"That was the best ball-striking and the best putting tournament that's ever been performed in my opinion," he said Tuesday. "The next [score] was 3 over. And I thought that that was pretty good play, and we were only able to shoot 3 over because the first two days we had some moisture."

Woods' U.S. Open championship was the highlight of one of the best seasons ever seen in the history of the game. He went on to win the British Open by 8 shots and the PGA Championship in a playoff, and wound up the "Tiger Slam" the next year by taking the Masters.

That was then, however. Woods now appears mortal. He is coming off an injury that he said "is better [but] not where I want it." He is coping with personal issues while trying to get into a routine that will enable him to play golf more at the level to which he is accustomed.

"Getting back into the competitive atmosphere and preparation [are] something that I hadn't done for obviously a long period of time," he said. "Now I've done that since April, [so] that part has certainly become much more normal now."

Woods enters the 2010 Open having been ranked No. 1 in the world for 262 consecutive weeks. He would drop out of the top spot if Mickelson won this week, or if he finished down in the standings and Mickelson took second or third.

No matter how well he plays this week, he won't be the intimidating player who lapped the field in 2000. But Woods acknowledges that the gap has closed significantly between No. 1 and the rest of the world, and not just because of better technology.

"Technology certainly has been a huge step," he said. "And the guys have really taken fitness seriously. There weren't a whole lot of guys in the gym when I first came out on tour. Look at now: Most of the guys carry trainers week to week. The guys are trying to make sure they're in the best condition possible."

It would be impossible to discount Woods at Pebble Beach this week despite his struggles. After all, his last victory in a major came at the 2008 U.S. Open in a playoff while he was suffering from a torn knee ligament.

Given all his problems, physical and personal, one would think that if Woods collected the U.S. Open trophy at the 18th green Sunday evening, it would be extra special. But as Woods said, "I think they're all special.

"I've won 14 of them now," he said, "and each one has been different in its own right - different circumstances, even though some have been on the same venues. They're all so special and they're all so different and for me I cherish every one of those because I know how hard it was to compete in that event and be on top."