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By Tiger Woods
Special to PGATOUR.com

The U.S. Open is next week and I'm working hard on my game to get ready. I played another practice round Monday at Oakmont Country Club to get a better feel for the course and left with the same impression I had the first time I played it: It's probably the hardest U.S. Open course I have ever played.

Tiger Woods was somewhat pleased with his T15 finish at the Memorial. (WireImage)

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Obviously, driving will be a key. Most fairways are only about 26 yards wide and the rough is brutal in places. Given the speed and undulation of the greens, it will be difficult to hold the putting surfaces without playing from the short grass.

Plus, many of the fairways run out. I see myself hitting only five or six drivers and using a lot of stinger 3-woods off the tee for position. It might leave me with longer clubs into the greens, but at least I will be able to control the spin of my golf ball.

I'm excited for the tournament. We only have four major championships a year and this is what we play for, what defines your career. I've been fortunate to win two U.S. Opens and would love to win another. My goal, as always, is to give myself a chance on Sunday afternoon.

Last week, I played okay in the Memorial Tournament, tying for 15th. I putted poorly until the final round, when I used 26 putts and shot 67, but progressed each day with my ball-striking. Although I wanted to win, I was also preparing for Oakmont and got a lot of work done with Hank Haney.

Peaking for a major championship is never easy. You try to do everything humanly possible to get ready, including rest, but you just never know until you get to the tournament. Despite a busy off-course schedule, I have trained hard and hope it pays off.

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