Brutal Oakmont eclipses Tiger talk

PITTSBURGH, June 11 (Reuters) Although Tiger Woods usually dominates the storylines going into any major championship, the world number one has been overshadowed in the build-up to this week's US Open.

The spotlight has been placed on Oakmont Country Club's daunting par-70 layout, widely regarded as the toughest in golf and certain to provide a gruelling challenge when the tournament starts on Thursday.

Oakmont's 667-yard 12th hole will become the longest par five in Open history while its 288-yard eighth hole will take over as the longest par three.

The tight, hilly course has very few flat lies and is also renowned for its slick, undulating greens which have been described by the players as ''scary fast''.

Woods, who made his second visit to Oakmont last week, expects to use his driver sparingly as he hunts a third major victory in four starts.

''It's probably the hardest U.S. Open course I have ever played,'' the 31-year-old American said. ''Driving will be a key.

Most fairways are only about 26 yards wide and the rough is brutal in places.

''I see myself hitting only five or six drivers and using a lot of stinger three-woods off the tee for position,'' added the 12-times major winner, US Open champion at Pebble Beach in 2000 and Bethpage Black in 2002.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, who won last year's US Open at Winged Foot after benefiting from late collapses by Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie, agreed.

HARDEST COURSE ''It's pretty tough, the hardest course I've ever seen,'' Ogilvy said after visiting the 7,230-yard layout for the first time last week.

As ever at a US Open, the ability to grind out pars and to stay as patient as possible when the going gets tough will be defining traits in the make-up of this week's champion.

Woods, a three-times winner on the PGA Tour this season, unquestionably fits the bill, as do twice winners Retief Goosen and Ernie Els of South Africa.

Another candidate is Mickelson, who won last month's Players Championship in only his third tournament since switching allegiance to swing coach Butch Harmon.

The manner of his victory in golf's unofficial fifth major raised speculation of a genuine challenge to Woods in the biggest events but Mickelson has since struggled with his fitness.

The American left-hander pulled out of the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago because of a wrist injury and also opted to skip the St. Jude Championship that finished on Sunday.

Other likely contenders for the second major of the year include Australia's Adam Scott, Swede Henrik Stenson, Briton Luke Donald and American Jim Furyk, who triumphed in 2003 at Olympia Fields.

REUTERS TB BD1640