Woods on the defensive

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Of his 12 major titles, just two have come from this particular championship and the most recent was at Bethpage five years ago and ahead of his 13th US Open appearance at Oakmont tomorrow, Woods had no problem when asked to justify his record.

"I think I've had pretty good success, I've won two," he said. "It's not an easy championship. It's probably the most difficult championship that we face all year."

Phil Mickelson, for one, would love the opportunity to explain away a mere two US Open victories.

The left-hander has four runner-up finishes in the event to his name since 1999 and, though he has broken his Major hoodoo in recent years, question marks still remain in this event.

Those doubts have grown since his infamous last-hole meltdown last year, an experience Mickelson is using as inspiration.

"I don't ever want to put it totally behind me," said the American, who had been a doubt for Oakmont with a wrist injury.

"I want to look back on it and recall what happened because I used that analysis to design a game plan to start driving the ball better.

"If I just forget about it, I'm not taking advantage of the opportunity to take some weaknesses and hopefully turn them into strengths."