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Tiger Woods' game is not suited for the U.S. Open's tight course setups, NBCSports.com contributor Jim McCabe writes.

By now it is very much a part of the Woods resume: He has never won a major championship from anywhere but in possession of at least the 54-hole lead. It hits at one of his hallmarks, that he’s arguably the greatest front-runner sports ever has known, but he’s only gotten into that position twice in 11 U.S. Open starts as a pro. That’s not an indictment of his incomparable talents; it’s a testament to how demanding is this U.S. Open challenge, and part of me thinks officials have made it even tougher by this contrived pairing alongside Phil Mickelson.

Will it be great theater? Yes. Will it be a logistical nightmare? Yes. But will it be a competitive benefit for Woods (and Mickelson)? I doubt it. Woods indeed is as focused an athlete who graces our landscape, but he’ll be hard-pressed to be at his brilliant best amid the chaos that Thursday morning and Friday afternoon will bring.

The advantage that Woods brings into Torrey Pines has been negated by the long layoff he has had thanks to the arthroscopic knee surgery of April 15. At least, that is what is commonly being offered for consumption. But he has been sidelined before with knee surgery and come back from a long rest to win his first tournament and guess where that was? That’s right, Torrey Pines, the 2003 Buick Invitational.

So Woods is right to suggest that “I’ve done it before,” and you’d be foolhardy to think he doesn’t have the talent and grit to do it again.

But this time he doesn’t have the luxury of 18 holes on the softer, player-friendly North Course to warm up. This time it’s a U.S. Open setup from the opening tee shot, with the pressure turned up a notch or two thanks to the never-ending desire of the USGA to secure some Hollywood sizzle. This time he’ll face conditions that minimize his most scintillating attributes, power and imagination.

Woods is still the favorite, no question.

The only thing is, this is a championship where favorites have the most difficult time winning. If it happens again, don’t blame the knee injury or the rust, but give a nod to the fact that it’s the U.S. Open.