Tiger Woods prepares for 1st appearance at U.S. Open since 2020 - ESPN

PINEHURST, N.C. — Tiger Woods, who last made the cut at the U.S. Open in 2019, said Tuesday that he likes that this week's tournament will be played in Florida-like heat, which will help his surgically repaired back and right leg.

Weather forecasts call for temperatures in the upper 80s to mid-90s later this week with little chance of precipitation, which should help Woods stay loose.

«It's like home,» said Woods, who lives in Jupiter, Florida. «Hot and humid is what we deal with every single day at home in Florida, so that's nothing new. It's just making sure that I keep hydrated and the mental tax that the heat will bring. It's going to bring it to all of us, not just me. Everyone is going to be tested.»

Woods, 48, will be making his first appearance in the U.S. Open since missing the cut at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York in 2020.

«I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it,» Woods said Tuesday, when asked if his body is good enough to compete and win. «It's just a matter of doing it. This golf course is going to test every single aspect of your game, especially mentally, and just the mental discipline that it takes to play this particular golf course, it's going to take a lot.»

The 15-time major champion will make his third start in a U.S. Open played at Pinehurst No. 2. He tied for third in 1999 and finished second in 2005. He missed the most recent U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 while recovering from back surgery in 2019.

Woods will tee off at No. 10 at 7:29 a.m. ET in the first round with Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick. The trio will tee off at No. 1 at 1:14 p.m. ET in the second round.

Woods hasn't fared well in the majors since returning to competitive golf after he was seriously injured in a