US Open 2012: a true champion like Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood or Rory McIlroy will win at Olympic Club Tiger Woods has to be placed somewhere near the head of considerations. His victory at Memorial three weeks ago was the best he has played post-scandal. And when one takes into account the demands of this lay-out, his chances only seem stronger. The ball-striking is a given, while the return to nerveless clutch putter has to be taken on trust after Memorial. He remains an erratic driver, but the driver will not necessarily be an important tool around this comparatively short 7,170-yarder. Conceivably, Woods could get away with hitting four drivers per round. Then there is the shape of shot required. The radical swing alterations made under Sean Foley has left Woods favouring a left-to-right shot, which happens to be perfect for Olympic. He does not appear so comfortable with the draw, but again, this could hinder him only three or four times. It does all appear set up for a first major in four years. Brandel Chamblee thinks so. In fact, the much-respected American analyst believes that of the other 155 players only one stands out as a legitimate challenger. Step forward Lee Westwood, he of the six top-threes from his last 10 majors. If he putts, he wins. Westwood must believe this. No question he is the best player from tee to green, but his form on the greens does not live up to the rest of his game. Yet these putting surfaces - the grass having been switched from poa to bent - are some of the truest ever seen and that must be a huge advantage. Furthermore, the rough is so thick around the greens" edge that even the short-game wizard who is Phil Mickelson will struggle. There will be a premium on being on that dancefloor; and to that end there is also a premium in being in position off the tee. That is the fear with Luke Donald, the world No 1. Dare one comment that if he drives, he wins? McIlroy will be going for everything in his title defence, that is for sure. Aggression won him his major at Congressional and he is determined to take that route again, vowing to hit nine or 10 drivers per round. Except The Olympic is a far different test than that rain-softened course in Maryland and he may cross that line between aggressive and reckless play. There is pressure on him, too, as he tries to become just the second player to win back-to-back US Opens in the past 61 years. When he ventures out in the company of the two Britons flanking him in the world rankings - Donald and the No 3, Westwood - Woods will have finished and he will bear the brunt of focus and gallery activity. How he responds will be intriguing, although at least he managed to perform the ceremonial pitch on Tuesday night before the San Francisco Giants" game against Houston Astros. The pitch was weak but on target. Alas, he does not intend to be so cautious in his day-job. What a morning it promises to be, with Woods grouped with Mickelson and the Masters champion, Bubba Watson. Mickelson takes the Woods pairing personally, "beating" his nemesis five times in the past seven rounds they have played together. This will be one of the chief plots of the opening day. It is a magnificent stage, jammed with subplots. There is Andy Zhang, the 14-year-old who is the youngest ever qualifier for the US Open, and there is Casey Martin, who requires a buggy because of a degenerative leg condition. Yet this one will be for the main players. The Olympic will at last crown a champion worthy of the club's title. The hole of discontent It is the longest hole in major golf and is set to become one of the most contentious as well. If Phil Mickelson is any judge, at 670 yards, the 16th is set to drive the players to distraction. Players usually approach par-fives with enthusiasm. Not so at The Olympic Club, says Mickelson. "You play 15 holes of really tough golf and you finally get your first par five - and it's the toughest on the course," he said, before adding, "and maybe the worst." Three yards longer than the 12th at Oakmont five years ago, the 16th is a three-shotter for each and every member of the field. Bubba Watson, arguably the game's biggest hitter, nailed two drivers in practice and came up 70 yards short. Mickelson was left with a 214-yarder for his third shot on Tuesday. "My prediction is the 16th will play more over par than any hole on the course," the left-hander said. I would never say it's unfair. I just wouldn't say it's a good hole. It's a case where longer is not better. Steve Stricker concurred. "It's a par six," he said. Mickelson was full of praise for the rest of the layout, which has been improved since the last US Open here 14 years ago. "It's a different course than we played in 1998," he said. It's now a wonderful test of golf. Mickelson, a five-time US Open runner-up, expects to be up for that test. Grouped with Tiger Woods, he said: "The one player I'm most concerned about if I play my best golf that may have a chance to beat me is Tiger.."