>> i think the us gawould have loved to have had this course for the u.s. open. it is firm, fast and much harder than it was last year during the u.s. open. i don't think we are going to see a birdie fest, like last year, when rory mcilroy finished at 16 under. yesterday during the pro-am at 7:30 in the morning the greens were already firm and fast. so i think. >> reporter: under par would be a goodwining score and the players know they are going to have to stay out of the rough. >> reporter: tiger two weeks ago at the u.s. open, started strong, disappointing finish. what do you think his mental state is, heading into today's start of the first round? >> i think we are going to see the tiger the first two rounds of the u.s. open when he shot 6-70 to take a share of the lead and then 75-73 coming in. i think tiger is the favorite. he is the last person to win the at&t national in 2009, he is playing as well as anybody, and he is tiger. he loves this golf course. whenever tiger likes a golf course he plays very well there. obviously every week he is the guy to watc