Woods looking to claim first Major of 2007 at Southern Hills

The PGA is Woods' last chance of 2007 and failure at Southern Hills would mean that for only the fourth time in his 11 complete seasons as a professional, Woods will have missed out on one of the season's four Majors.

 "You never want to be shut out, you never want to have a year where you don't win a major," admitted the 31-year-old, who claimed his third PGA title last year when he romped home at Medinah by five strokes.

 "This year I've come close in two, and it just didn't happen. But I've been in this situation before."

   Woods bounced back from his disappointing performance at last month's British Open by clinching a massive eight-stroke victory at the Bridgestone Invitational last weekend and starts as strong favourite to land a fourth PGA title and 13th Major overall.

 He tees off Thursday with fellow Americans Bob Tway and Rich Beem.

 But Woods' opponents in the 155-strong field will no doubt take heart from the fact that he failed to win the PGA the last time it was held at Southern Hills in 2001.

 British Open champion Padraig Harrington plays his first two rounds alongside this season's other major winners Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera.

 Harrington, who finished 14th at the Bridgestone Invitational, said the tournament had been a perfect tune-up for the main event.

 "While I was good this week in my preparation, it'll certainly need to be better next week," he said. "I was determined to put in a reasonable effort and I did."

   Southern Hills may be only 7,131 yards in length, but the par-70 course will provide the sternest of tests, not least because of the energy-draining heat and humidity.

 Also, miss the fairway and you are in serious trouble while the greens favour only the most well-struck approach shots.

 "I think it's one of the best set-ups we've seen," said 2005 PGA champion Phil Mickelson.

 Woods agreed, calling it a "wonderful" course.

  "It tests your ability to shape shots, and is one where you have to manoeuvre the ball both ways. You also have to hit it different trajectories," he said.

  "Playing a course in which you have to hit the ball correctly, think how you're going to flight it, how it's going to land, what kind of spin you're going to have on it   that is the way to play golf   not just bomb away, when it becomes solely a putting - contest."

DPA