Tiger places Winged Foot among most difficult major championship venues

Few players have as much experience playing Winged Foot in the U.S. Open field than Tiger Woods, and he knows firsthand how difficult it will play this week for the 120th running of the national championship.

"I think (Winged Foot is) right up there next to Oakmont and I think Carnoustie as far as just sheer difficulty without even doing anything to it," Tiger said of the West Course at the Mamaroneck, New York property. "I think those three golf courses, they can host major championships without ever doing anything to them.

"This one or Oakmont here is either one or two."

Woods last competed at Winged Foot in the 2006 U.S. Open, where he shot 76-76 and missed the cut in his first start following the death of his father, Earl. Prior to that, he placed tied for 29th at the 1997 PGA Championship.

"The golf course has changed a lot since then. Obviously the greens, they've all been redone, and most of the holes are a lot longer than when we played in '06," Woods added.

Winged Foot was stretched to 7,469 yards in 2015 in preparation for the 2020 U.S. Open. Tee decks were moved on the final three holes, and greens sizes were restored to the original dimensions to add more undulations.

"The golf course is going to be hard," Woods continued. "It depends on how difficult they want to set up these pins, give us a chance at it. But with the forecast, it's going to be difficult no matter what."

Tiger predicted a winning score over-par, similar to the 5-over Geoff Ogilvy won with in 2006.

Woods missed two of four cuts in majors since winning the Masters in April 2019. He most recently tied for 37th at the PGA Championship in August.