Nobody's running scared, not just yet anyway, but the imposing shadow of Tiger Woods - seeking to extend his winning streak in majors to an unprecedented fifth-in-a-row - looms over everything to do with this 101st staging of the US Open at Southern Hills Country Club.

Ask David Duval a question, or Sergio Garcia for that matter, and almost inevitably the talk turns to the world number one. To how it is imperative to play what Duval describes as "a mistake-free round", simply to get into a position to be battling with him down the stretch. The task, as ever, is an enormous one for those attempting to dethrone Woods; and his demeanour - relaxed yet focused - suggests he doesn't intend to make it any easier for them.

Yesterday was a case in point. Woods was first out onto the course in the company of Mark O'Meara and Notah Begay, and clearly seemed to be enjoying himself as he finalised his preparations for the championship. Those preparations had started in earnest on the Monday after his win in the Memorial when he came to play a practice round "That's when I really started to give it my full attention, at least I had something in my mind's eye to replicate when I was doing my practice sessions," he said. And those preparations have brought him here with high expectations.

Those expectations are matched by his fellow-professionals. "The way to overcome Tiger is to be perfect and, if not, congratulate him," remarked Garcia. Duval was even more pointed. "We all know Tiger might very well have a great chance to win this week and, as a player, you come to the realisation that you have to play very well and nearly mistake free to expect to be battling with him come Sunday," he said.

So, the Woods factor, and his sheer presence, almost as much as the course itself, has occupied the minds of those stalking him. Garcia, who has discovered a rich vein of form, winning his first US Tour event at the Colonial last month and then finishing second to Woods at the Memorial, emphasised the importance of not making mistakes but also the need to "play your own game, to try to beat the golf course every single time".

Duval, too, was of the mind that it was important to keep mistakes off the scorecard but also not to think about the Woods factor too much. "If you fall into the trap of letting other people dictate how you play, it is just a disaster waiting to happen. If you try things that you normally might not try and hit some shots you deep down know you can't hit, then that's a stupid way to play the game. You need to let your own abilities dictate how you play . . . and I think the big key to play against Tiger and beating Tiger is to really concentrate on your strengths and not to make mistakes."

There is a belief that this course has been set-up to suit Woods but then, as Darren Clarke remarked, "every course suits Tiger." Still, the USGA have extended the course and have two of the longest holes of their kind in US Open history: the fifth, a 642-yards Par 5, and the 16th, a 491-yards Par 4. Still, in practice, Woods was able to hit a six-iron second shot to that fifth hole and, given that the 16th is primarily downhill with the prevailing wind behind, that yardage is largely a false one.

If there is any element of trickery, it is confined to the 18th green. "All I can say is that if you hit a good, solid shot in the middle of that green, there is a chance of the ball rolling 40 yards off the front and that is a pretty harsh penalty for a good, solid shot, especially the hole being 470 yards and you have got a two-iron or three-iron or even lumber in your hands. That's tough, but everyone in the field has to play it," remarked Woods.

"To be honest, this golf course is such that it is straightforward. It's right in front of you. There's no tricks, and that is one of the great things about playing some of the older courses, that there aren't any lumps and bumps and blind shots. Everything is right in front of you," insisted Woods, adding: "I haven't had to do anything special in preparing for this event. I've tried to hit the ball crisp and clean and work on my driving a little."

When asked if he would put money on himself to win at odds of even money, Woods replied: "Probably not . . . just because I don't think it would be a good business decision with those odds. Now, do I like my chances? Yes, I do." As ever, he's the man they all have to beat. And he knows it.

Tee-off times (Thurday, Friday) (Times are all Irish, US unless stated, (x) denotes amateurs) - 12.30 (16.50) A Cabrera (Arg), D Paulson, B May; 12.40 (17.00) C Dennis, G Orr (Gbr), B Henninger; 12.50 (17.10) C Campbell, M Schiene, S Gangluff. 13.00 (17.20) C Raulerson Jr, A-J Walker, S Johnson; 13.10 (17.30) G Frake II, J Daley, D Wilson; 13.20 (17.40) D Peoples, T Taniguchi (Jpn), T Pernice Jr; 13.30 (17.50) G Nicklaus, C Smith, C Howell; 13.40 (18.00) B Chamblee, W Wood, R Zokol (Can); 13.50 (18.10) P Mickelson, S Appleby (Aus), J M Olazabal (Spa). 14.00 (18.20) F Funk, H Irwin, L Roberts; 14.10 (18.30) S Garcia (Spa), B Tway, J Leonard; 14.20 (18.40) P Azinger, P Harrington (Ire), T Kite; 14.30 (18.50) D Love III, L Westwood (Eng), T Lehman; 14.40 (19.00) S Hoch, S Cink, P Fulke (Swe); 14.50 (19.10) P Lawrie (Scot), S Jones, S Flesch. 15.00 (19.20) R Beem, J Hart, D Pride; 15.10 (19.30) R Allenby (Aus), B Andrade, V Singh (Fij); 15.20 (19.40) J Sandelin (Swe), C Perry, O Browne; 15.30 (19.50) M A Jimenez (Spa), R Mediate, S Stricker; 15.40 (20.00) N Begay III, B Langer (Ger), D Waldorf; 15.50 (20.10) H Frazar, K Triplett, D Clarke (Nir). 16.00 (20.20) M Gogel, G Day, B Quigley; 16.10 (20.30) C Paulson, K Sutherland, J Freeman; 16.20 (20.40) D Hammond, J D Blake, P Goydos; 16.30 (20.50) K Blackman, A Kang, K Johnson; 16.40 (21.00) J Dufner, W Heffernan (Can), C Anderson; 16.50 (12.30) B Faxon, E Romero (Arg) J Huston. 17.00 (12.40) P Price (Wal), M Calcavecchia, F Langham; 17.10 (12.50) M Allen, B Klapprott, G Koch; 17.20 (13.00) B Bates, J Maxon, T Petrovic; 17.30 (13.10) R Damron, R Black, S Micheel; 17.40 (13.20) A-J Harris, M Sposa, D Forsman; 17.50 (13.30) F Couples, M Campbell (Nzl), J Durant. 18.00 (13.40) M Gronberg (Swe), P Jordan, S Dunlap; 18.10 (13.50) D Duval, C Franco (Par), N Price; 18.20 (14.00) C Montgomerie (Scot), J Furyk, F Lickliter II; 18.30 (14.10) Woods, A-J Quinney, T Bjorn (Den); 18.40 (14.20) K J Choi (Kor), B Jobe, J Williamson; 18.50 (14.30) J Maggert, L Janzen, E Els (Rsa). 19.00 (14.40) H Sutton, R Goosen (Rsa), C Pavin; 19.10 (14.50) J Parnevik (Swe), M Brooks, J L Lewis; 19.20 (15.00) M O'Meara, S Lowery, G Hjertstedt (Swe); 19.30 (15.10) M Weir (Can), J Maginnes, M Hulbert; 19.40 (15.20) D Hart, E Toledo (Mex), S Verplank; 19.50 (15.30) C DiMarco, S Katayama (Jap), R Gamez. 20.00 (15.40) N Faldo (Gbr), D Toms, T Herron; 20.10 (15.50) J Coceres (Arg), T Byrum, B Estes; 20.20 (16.00) M Wiebe, T Izawa (Jap), S Kendall; 20.30 (16.10) J Kribel, A-B Molder, P Lonard (Aus); 20.40 (16.20) B Baird, T Isenhour, J McGovern; 20.50 (16.30) C Gonzales, T Jaidee (Tha), J Barlow. 21.00 (16.40) C Wall, T Fischer, J Douma.