TIGER Woods two key reasons among many why he wants to be holding the giant Sam Wannamaker Trophy at Hazeltine National Golf Club come Sunday

Firstly there is the small matter of wanting to avoid only his second season in the last 11 without having one of the big four trophies in golf resting on his Florida mantelpiece.

And then there is small matter of righting events seven years ago in Minnesota when Woods ended up as the runner-up behind Rich Beem – only five times Majors has the world number one had to settle for second best.

Woods finished strongly with four birdies in a row but Beem had caught overnight leader Justin Leonard early on Sunday before blitzing ahead with the only eagle of the tournament at the 12^th.

Add to the mix that a 15^th Major this week would also see Woods equal Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus’ record of five USPGA championships, as well as moving him within three of the Golden Bear’s all-time record of 18 – and in a much shorter time span than the game’s greatest player until the Tiger era.

So having already finished second on the course where Tony Jacklin was the last Englishman to win the US Open some 39 years ago, is Woods the clear favourite the bookies have him down for this week?

The Hazeltine Course – which is the venue for the 2016 Ryder Cup - is set to become the longest in Major championship history – it can be set up at a mindboggling 7,674 yards although the wet conditions suggest something around the 7,400 mark is more likely this week.

Three par fives measure more than 600 yards restricting even the biggest bombers’ chances of getting on in two, and seven holes measure 475 yards or more – that is seven par fives to anyone over 40.

The stretch from 11-13 is regarded as one of the toughest tests facing the world’s elite – and Rees Jones, son of orginal architect Robert Trent Jones Snr, who toughened up Torrey Pines to meet the USGA’s penchant for the toughest US Open venues, has added an extra yards to those three holes alone in 2005 with a total of 300 yards to the full 18.

ANDREW GRIFFIN looks at what the players can expect this week from a course that was ranked only second behind US Open venue Bethpage Black in 2002 – when the two courses coincidentally staged the same two Major championships.

1^st 490 yards par 4. Thirty yards have been added with new bunkers narrowing the driving area. The challenge then is to find the right level on the two-tier green. From the rough that will almost be impossible. Tough start.

2^nd 431 yards par 4. Cut the dogleg with a draw shape and you are looking at a wedge but a new trap ratchets up the danger tariff. Three imposing bunkers guard the front left. Birdies and bogeys aplenty.

3^rd 633 yards par 5. Avoid the bunkers down the left while thick rough lurks right. A flat spot for the lay up is the safe option – try and hug the left side to get on in two but the raised green makes that a tough ask.

4^th 210 yards par 3. Surrounded by bunkers this short hole offered up two aces at the 1991 US Open. Now 14 yards longer, the back shelf offers a tough pin position while the front has a severe slope with the potential for a suicidal Sunday shot.

5^th 448 yards par 4. Nearly 40 yards longer than in 2002 courtesy of a new tee.  Flying the fairway bunkers is the aggressive play but the left rough is as long as anything at Hazeltine. Narrow green with deep bunkers in front, and on both sides.

6^th 405 yards par 4. Unchanged hole with narrow fairway hemmed in by woods on both sides. A long green is sandwiched by a pond on the left and bunkers right. Another tough hole.

7^th 572 yards par 5. The shortest par five but still 29 yards longer than seven years ago with added traps. Still reachable in two but the pond on the left may tempt the shorter hitters to take the Leonard line and hope to make four birdies from four lay-ups as he did in 2002.

8^th 176 yards par 3. Small green is surrounded by water and sand. Narrow front makes for a sucker pin – play for the centre, take three and move on.

9^th 432 yards par 4. Bunkers have been repositioned nearer to the green to make the drive as hard as anything facing the field this week. Go long or left and sign for a five.

10^th 452 yards par 4. Another dogleg requiring a decision now an extra 42 yards have been added. Get over the corner and it’s all downhill towards Hazeltine Lake. Back left pin placements are the trickiest. A three will make a huge difference to the card here.

11^th 606 yards par 5. Now some 59 yards longer than when Beem made the only three of the 2002 USPGA. Will it prove to be the decisive hole again? Need to find the short stuff which is still Tiger’s achilles – five wins since his comeback or not.

12^th 518 yards par 4. Longest par four to what was already the hardest hole on the course and now its 50 yards longer! Wide target off the tee granted but into a prevailing wind and with a shallow green to aim for expect a big sprinkling of fives on all four days.

13^th 248 yards par 3. No let up as you now take on one of the longest short holes in world golf, courtesy of an extra 44 yards. Pond on the left, trees on the right, taking the timber out of the bag if you are a Toms or a Donald might be the only option. Avoid traps front and right and don’t expect any easy pins either. Scot Richie Ramsay made three or better seven times on his way to winning the US Amateur Championship here three years ago... what would Tiger and Co. pay for that record this week?

14^th 352 yards par 4. No, that is not a misprint. Finally a short par four and according to Billy Casper, one of the greats. New cross-bunker short of the green adds to the risk-reward. Small green and tricky pins will keep the birdie count down.

15^th 642 yards par 5. New tee has added an extra 56 yards from seven years ago bringing more bunkers into play on both the drive and second shot. Still offers hope if like Tiger last time, you need a fast finish.

16^th 402 yards par 4. “Probably the hardest par four I ever played.” That was Johnny Miller’s verdict of Hazeltine National’s signature hole, and it has been left unchanged by Mr Jones. Drive over the lake but keep your shot short of the creek on the left. Elevated green is tough to hold with the lake reappearing on the right. A watery grave awaits the wayward.

17^th 182 yards par 3. Water and sand surround the target once more with the green as tough as any at Hazeltine, complete with narrow shelves at the back and right.

18^th 475 yards par 4. New tee adds 18 yards and requires you to thread the tee shot between bunkers on both sides. Three distinct tiers on the final green require complete accuracy with the approach, especially if the flag is set on the narrow front.