DETROIT — The PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, Mich., is two months away, but Tiger Woods took the first unofficial shot of the tournament Monday when he teed off on Hockeytown.

During a news conference at Oakland Hills Country Club, where Woods appeared via satellite, the two-time defending champion was asked whether he was rooting for the Red Wings or the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals Monday night at Joe Louis Arena.

Woods chuckled at the question. Then he let 'er rip.

"I don't really care," he said with an impish smile. "It's all about the Dodgers. I don't think anyone really watches hockey anymore."

But don't take it too personally, Hockeytown. Woods said he has rarely watched golf during his absence from competition because of surgery on his left knee after the Masters. Woods said he still plans to compete in next week's U.S. Open in San Diego despite not having played an 18-hole round since April 13.

"I feel like I'm getting there," Woods said. "I feel like I'm getting my leg stronger. Hopefully it'll be close to 100 percent. But if it's not, no big deal. I've won tournaments when it felt like that before. It's just a matter of going out there and then really getting into the competitive flow a lot faster than I had done a couple years ago at Winged Foot."

Despite any physical limitations, Woods still is widely considered a favorite at Torrey Pines, where he was won the Buick Invitational six times.

Oakland Hills will be another story for Woods, who has played the South course only twice. As an amateur in the 1996 U.S. Open, he tied for 82nd despite leading briefly. In the 2004 Ryder Cup, Woods accrued two points in five matches for the Americans in their 18? to 9? thrashing at hands of Europe.

Yet Woods said he has somewhat of a fondness for the course because his follow-up to an opening round of six-over-par 76 in the '96 Open encouraged him to pursue a professional career.

"The second round, Friday's round, is really what turned my sights to turning pro later that summer," he said. "When I shot 69 to make the cut, that was a big turning point for me as an amateur."

Woods said he was unfamiliar with the updates architect Rees Jones has implemented recently to the South course, which plays 471 yards longer than it did the last time Woods saw it four years ago. Woods said he likely would scout the course during his visit for the Buick Open later this month.

Even without recent working knowledge, Woods had no trouble recalling the course's most daunting challenge.

"More than anything, it's just the greens," he said. "The golf course, it can hide some of these pins where it's just virtually impossible to get at. The greens, it's hard to get your speed right, read them correctly. They're probably just as—I wouldn't say as—demanding as Oakmont, but certainly not too far behind."

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