Woods eyes the majors

Last updated: 16th January 2013

World number three Tiger Woods fancies his prospects of winning at least one major tournament in 2013.

Woods, who last won a major at the 2008 US Open, knows and enjoys playing at three of the courses that will host majors this season.

The one tournament, which Woods enjoys the most is the Masters, played annually at the famous Augusta National.

For Woods, it is probably the one venue where he is most likely to add a major title to his impressive resume. Woods has won the Masters four times - the last victory came in 2005.

"Obviously, I love Augusta," Woods told journalists in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The other three venues that will host major tournaments in 2013 are Muirfield (venue for the Open Championship), Oak Hill (venue for the PGA Championship) and Merion, which will host the US Open for the first time in 32 years.

"Three of the four (major venues) I really like. The other one I have never played," said Woods, who has never played Merion in his long and illustrious career.

The other venue which Woods knows all too well and will probably serve as the ultimate challenge for him is the infamous Muirfield.

This year's edition of the Open Championship will provide the ideal opportunity for Woods to make amends for his poor showing at that venue in 2002. For Woods, that is all the motivation that is needed.

"Muirfield is a wonderful test," Woods said. "I just happened to catch a bad day in 2002."

Oak Hill isn't a happy hunting ground for Woods either, as it is the venue where he finished tie for 39th at Glory's Last Shot in 2003. Again, Woods is prepared to embrace the challenge.

The reality is, if Woods can't play Oak Hils, very few of the other players on the PGA Tour will be able to either.

"Oak Hill is one of the more difficult golf courses," he said. "It's straight out in front of you; it's very, very difficult," he added.