Tiger Woods has denied losing the chance of a Grand Slam at Muirfield last month has given the world number one extra motivation for this week's USPGA Championship at Hazeltine National.

Woods, the first player for 30 years to win the Masters and the US Open in the same season, had his challenge for the Open Championship swept away by a storm on the third day in which he shot an 81, his worst score as a professional.

Now Woods is hoping to become the first player to win three majors in a year for the second time.

He achieved the feat in 2000, just as Ben Hogan did in 1953.

"No, there is no extra motivation," said Woods.

"I'll give it my best shot, as I do at every major.

"I take the same focus into each major and try to get my game to peak at the right time. So far I have managed it twice this year.

"I like winning majors and I am going to keep in trying to win them."

Nor was Woods brooding over what might have been.

"I really don't," he said.

"Anyone who has played in the Open Championship, we all know that's what can happen.

"I'm sure I will play in conditions like that again over there. I played at a time when the conditions were tough and I didn't play particularly well. You have to chalk it up to experience."

Woods has won the USPGA twice before, in 1999 at Medinah, when he held off the challenge of Sergio Garcia, and in 2000 at Valhalla, when he defeated Bob May in a play-off.

"It is always nice to end the year on a good note," he said.

"Only Mr Hogan and myself have won three majors in a year before.

"It is unbelievably difficult to have your game peak at the right time and to respond to all the circumstances that occur during a week. I've had some good breaks.

"I've had bad shots end up in good positions and led to a birdie instead of a bogey. That's how you end up winning tournaments like these."

Colin Montgomerie does not think Tiger's Muirfield experience will affect the world number one, who won the Buick Open on Sunday.

"All credit to Ernie Els for stepping in at Muirfield, but it was the weather that stopped the Grand Slam," said Montgomerie.

"The rules haven't changed as far as Tiger is concerned. His confidence doesn't seem to have been dented since he won last week.

"From what I gather he was not even playing at his best and that is always a good sign, to win when you are not at your best. I have only done it once in my career."

Els, who as the Open champion will be paired with Woods and defending champion David Toms for the first two rounds, would like the chance to play with Woods on Sunday as well.

"It would be great to play with Tiger and compete down the stretch at a major and see what happens," said Els.

"As I have said before, if Tiger is really on his game he is probably going to beat people because he is such an unbelievable competitor, but I believe that if I play to my best I can really compete, too."

Els, who won a four-way playoff at Muirfield, said he felt the public wanted to see players taking on Woods - and defeating him.

"I have heard comments from the general public on the course that they would like to see people compete with him, and win," said Els.

Each of the South African's three major wins - he won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 - have not been without their struggles.

"It would be better for my health if I won them a little easier," he said.

"But the majors are our most important tournaments and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves.

"In 94 I won in a play-off and in 97 it was tight all the way down the stretch.

"In the Open I was in control for a while and then fell back. It was hard work but I felt have really earned it."

This is one week the South African will not have the claret jug with him.

"It is back home in Orlando but it will travel with me the rest of the year," said Els.

"It has been everywhere else with me since Muirfield. There have been a few drinks out of it."