US TOUR NEWS:TIGER WOODS got a sneak preview this week of the venue for next week's US Open, playing his first round of golf since having knee surgery seven weeks ago.
The American world number one spent three hours and 15 minutes on the South Course at Torrey Pines where security was tight.
Spectators and media were barred from the course and Woods, who was accompanied by swing coach Hank Haney, ended his practice round after laying up in two at the par-five 18th.
It was his first visit to Torrey Pines since his victory there at the PGA Tour's Buick Invitational in January. Woods has won the tournament for the last four years, and six times overall.
Earlier this week, the 13-times major winner expressed confidence about his prospects for the June 12th-15th US Open.
"I'm really looking forward to getting out there," Woods said. "(It's) just a matter of going out there and really getting into the competitive flow."
US Open champion at Pebble Beach in 2000 and at Bethpage Black in 2002, Woods is the heavy favourite at Torrey Pines where he knows the course as well as anyone else in the field.
Argentina's Angel Cabrera defends his title in the second major of the season, having triumphed by a shot last year at Oakmont Country Club.
Woods will launch his bid for a 14th major victory in high-profile company with world number two Phil Mickelson and third-ranked Adam Scott.
Woods, despite having been sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery midway through April, is heavy favourite to win the second major championship of the year.
Left-hander Mickelson, a three-times major champion who lives in nearby Rancho Santa Fe, California, probably knows the course better than anyone else in the field.
He first visited Torrey Pines as a child and has won the Buick Invitational there three times - in 1993, 2000 and 2001.
Argentina's Cabrera has been grouped with British Open winner Padraig Harrington and American Davis Love III for the first two rounds.
Meanwhile, American Boo Weekley birdied two of the last three holes to grab an early one-shot lead in yesterday's opening round of the St Jude Championship in Memphis.
Weekley, who missed the cut at last week's Memorial tournament, capped a welcome return to form by shooting a five-under-par 65 on a hot, blustery day at the TPC Southwind. Fellow American Tommy Armour III fired a five-birdie 66 while Players champion Sergio Garcia of Spain was among a group of five bunched on 68.
"I drove the ball well today for a change and my irons were superb," said Weekley (34) who won the Heritage Classic in April for the second year in a row and plans to take a lengthy break from the game after next week's US Open.
