Woods ready for Winged Foot despite lengthy break

MAMARONECK, New York, June 14 (Reuters) Tiger Woods believes he is ready for this week's U.S. Open, despite returning from the longest break of his career.

His rivals agree, saying the world number one would never go into a major championship without being fully prepared.

''I would expect him to be 100 per cent,'' U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson told reporters at Winged Foot Golf Club yesterday.

''He's had a lot of time now to work on his game, get sharp and focus in on just this one tournament and not have to worry about others.

''I've never seen a tournament where he has not been prepared to win, unfortunately.

''I think he's going to be very sharp this week, and I know how bad he wants to win another major.

''But there are also 155 guys in here that are going to be trying their darndest to win it themselves,'' added the American left-hander, who is bidding this week for a third consecutive major title.

Woods, U.S. Open champion in 2000 and 2002, has not played tournament golf since tying for third at the Masters in April.

For much of that time, he has been grieving for his father Earl, who died on May 3 after a long battle with cancer.

EXTRA MOTIVATION New Zealand's Michael Campbell, who won last year's U.S. Open at Pinehurst, expects Woods to feel extra motivation at Winged Foot following the loss of his father.

''It's going to be hard for him because of his father passing away and we obviously feel for Tiger,'' Campbell said.

Woods, whose father was a lifelong mentor, adviser and friend, had no doubts about his readiness for the second major championship of the year when asked at a news conference on Tuesday.

''I'm here to compete and play and try to win this championship,'' the 30-year-old American said.

''I know that Dad would still want me to go out there and grind it and give it my best, and that's what I always do.

''That's what I will certainly try to do this week.

''If you're not focused 100 percent on winning a championship, there's really no need to go play, so I didn't,'' he added, referring to his nine-week break.

''I didn't come back until I felt that I was ready to win a championship. And I've had plenty of time to get ready.'' Woods will launch his bid for the 11th major title of his career in the company of Campbell and U.S. amateur champion Edoardo Molinari of Italy in Thursday's opening round.

Reuters AY DB1038