By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Long Island

Wherever Tiger Woods looks there is a Jack Nicklaus achievement to be matched or broken.

When Woods tees off in the United States Open on Thursday he will be trying to do something not accomplished since Nicklaus did it in 1972.

It is to win the first two majors of the year - and stand halfway towards golf's ultimate Grand Slam dream.

As the man who has captured six of the last 10 majors and who made his chief rivals look distinctly second-rate at the Masters in April, Woods may never have a better chance.

Certainly when he is handed that opportunity on a Bethpage Black course that measures 7,214 yards and has six par-fours between 450 and 499 yards.

"I think anybody who can hit the ball long and high is going to have an advantage," says Woods, pinpointing two of his main assets.

"But you've still got to keep the ball in play and you've got to hit the ball in the fairway in order to have a chance to win this title."

The Long Island course - open to the public every day of the year apart from this week - is a new test for the game's greatest names.

And Woods is no different to anybody else in trying to learn as much about as he can as quickly as he can.

He said: "I'm trying to get lines, how I want to shape the ball, what's the prevailing wind, what's the forecast going to be, what club do I want to hit off some of these tees to give myself the best chance of putting the ball in play.

"From there you kind of have a feel for where they are going to put the pins. If you miss a spot, I generally know how I'm swinging now, where my misses are going to be and I'll go ahead and chip from those spots.

"You're just trying to get a feel for how you want to play this golf course and trying to get an understanding of what works best for each individual player.

"I feel pretty comfortable here and I'm pretty comfortable with every facet of my game right now. But the only thing I can do is go out there and give it my best.

"Whether that puts higher expectations on me I don't know. I have my own expectations level - I come to every tournament to try and win and that's what I'm going to try to do this week again.

"I think any player will say that this is probably the most difficult championship to win because of the narrow fairways, high rough, the greens are pretty baked out there and they hide the pins as best they can.

"It takes a lot of energy out of you to play this championship and play it well and contend. By the end of the week you're pretty fried."

To that end, Woods has stuck to his normal routine and taken a break from tournament play before the event.

"I think it's just nice to get some rest and prepare, clear my mind and work on the things I need to without having any type of pressure of having to go out there and hit shots," he added.

"When you're at a tournament - for me, anyway - it's hard for me sometimes to work on things as well as play. I'm trying to get my game peaking towards the major.

"I like to be able to hit balls on the range for hours and not have anyone bug you. I listen to music and have some good time practising."