PREVIEW: Tiger Woods favourite to successfully defend US Open title

Farmingdale, New York - Tiger Woods will be strong favourite to win a second US Open in succession when the tournament begins Thursday at Bethpage State Park. An injury-hampered Woods claimed the 2008 crown in dramatic fashion against Rocco Mediate, taking victory on the first sudden death hole at Torrey Pines, after an 18-hole playoff on the Monday ended all tied. With major knee surgery now behind him, the 33-year-old, who is only one of six players to have won three or more US Open titles, will be looking to repeat his feat of 2002, when he won the Grand Slam event the last time it was held at Bethpage. Bethpage is one of the longest courses on the US circuit at more than 7,400 yards and Woods was the only golfer to finish below par seven years ago, registering three-under par total of 277 for his four rounds, beating Phil Mickelson by three shots on the Long Island course. Woods is back on top form after his long injury layoff as evidenced by his winning of the Memorial Tournament a fortnight ago as he looks to move him within three wins of Jack Nicklaus' record 18 major championships. Mickelson, meanwhile, will try to put the news of his wife Amy's diagnosis with breast cancer to the back of his mind as he looks to go one better than in 2002. Woods will get his US Open campaign at Bethpage underway alongside Masters champion Angel Cabrera and Ireland's Padraig Harrington, winner of the British Open and US PGA last year. Harrington will need to improve on his form so far in 2009, which has seen the 37-year-old drop from number three to 11 in the world rankings, thanks to missing four of his last five cuts. Kenny Perry, for his part, says he has learned from his collapse at the Masters two months ago and is looking to make amends this time around and win his first major. The 48-year-old veteran led the Masters by two shots with two holes to play before bogeys at 17 and 18 saw him eventually lose a playoff contested with fellow American Campbell and eventual winner Cabrera. 'I know I can do it,' said Perry. 'It's just I've got to rethink it a little bit when I'm coming down the last couple of holes and not get ahead of myself. But I look forward to the challenge.' Another veteran, 46-year-old Mediate, is also looking to put the disappointment of having a major snatched from him in a playoff this week. 'Bethpage is going to be a tremendously, unbelievably good test of golf,' he said.