Warning sign erected telling of deadly Tiger

Miller said: "When Tiger plays with these guys they just seem to know that mentally he is stronger, and that physically he is stronger."

If statistics mean anything then perhaps the narrow fairways, clawing rough and baked greens with bewildering slopes that comprise this 7,214-yard terror of a course will succeed where so much human courage and resolve is bound to fail. For in eight attempts Woods has never won a major shooting to better par 70. Indeed, on these ultimate tests of patience where the par five holes he regularly plunders to birdies are in such short supply, Woods has only twice finished better than 10th.

"Yeah, that's a little positive," said Ernie Els, winner of two US Open titles before Woods became the consistent force he is today.

One negative that may also count against Woods is the nature of the galleries that will number a capacity 50,000 for each of the four rounds. They are motor-mouthed beside the fairways and around the greens.

Woods, who always draws the biggest following, had a taste of it during a practice round on Monday. "Do you believe that?" he said. "I'm just trying to hit my tee shot and it sounds like a fight breaking out."

Yet it would be typical of the man if he doesn't draw inspiration from the timing of major golf's return to the New York area. Some of the firefightersinvolved in the rescue operation mounted in the wake of the 11 September outrage are acting as course marshals and, later today, there will be a poignant ceremony at which the USGA's museum will receive a golf ball recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Centre.

Woods expressed the hope that the Open will give New Yorkers something positive to focus on. "The fans are certainly into it," he said. Oh yes, the fans are certainly into it and that spells trouble for Colin Montgomerie.

American galleries, delighting in the Scot's dour, slump- shouldered demeanour, have driven him to despair. For this Open, two golf magazines mounted campaigns pleading with fans to give Montgomerie a fair chance as he bids to become the first European to win America's national title since Tony Jacklin in 1970.

Golf Digest even went so far as to punch out 25,000 badges bearing the legend "Be Nice To Monty". Last night, most of them lay discarded in the dust of the car parks.

Top stars beat the queues