The last time Woods went through a season majorless was in 2004 when he was in the process of rebuilding his swing for the second time, and while his inability to come to terms with the benign conditions at Carnoustie was out of character given his recent British Open track record, there is enough evidence to suggest that he will have ironed out his problems in the intervening period.

At one time it looked for all as if the year's final major could materialise into a reprise of the 1999 championship between Woods and Sergio Garcia, with Woods desperate to add to his haul of 12 titles, and with Garcia riding a wave after his victory at Carnoustie. Harrington, of course, nipped that prospect in the bud, and he is now the one going to Southern Hills near Tulsa basking in the glow of achievement.

The perennial problem with the PGA Championship is that because of its slot as the last major of the season, it is invariably perceived as the weakest major of the season when more often than not it, and the Players Championship, boast the strongest fields.

It's not the major that no one wants to win, but it remains the poor relation of the Masters, the US Open and the British Open. While Rich Beem had his unexpected moment in the sun in 2002, and while Woods's final round duels with Garcia and Bob May in 1999 and 2000 respectively were significant only because Woods was pushed to the limit, the last time the PGA championship was elevated to any special status was when John Daly burst into the limelight at Crooked Stick in 1991.

Phil Mickelson is feted for winning two Masters titles, however, his 2005 PGA victory at Baltusrol almost seems like a footnote now. Similarly for Vijay Singh who earned recognition for being the first major champion of the new millennium with his victory at Augusta in 2000, but who is rarely mentioned in dispatches as a two-time PGA winner.

Last year, Woods was imperious at Medinah pulling away to triumph by five shots after sharing the lead with Luke Donald going into the final day.

"He could have made four or five bogeys out there, but he only made one in the end, " said a resigned Donald. "He kind of willed the ball into the hole."

For all the world number one's authority, and despite the fact that this was his 12th major and his second title in succession following an even more emphatic performance on the parched links at Hoylake, much of that week in Chicago was taken up by speculation over who would and who wouldn't be included in America's Ryder Cup team for the matches at the K Club. The fourth major championship unfolded as something of a sideshow.

But low key doesn't imply low rent, and even if its flagship tournament has had less oxygen of publicity than the season's three other main events, the PGA of America consistently manages to pitch its tent on some classic US courses such as Winged Foot, Hazletine and Oak Hill while also doing a deal with one of the very best newcomers in Whistling Straits.

The trend continues this week with Southern Hills hosting the event where Nick Price and Ray Floyd have been PGA champions, and where Retief Goosen won his first US Open in 2001 following an 18-hole play-off with Mark Brooks.

"It's a course on which you have to hit the ball correctly, think about how you're going to flight the ball, how it's going to land, and what can of spin you have on it, " Woods told Golf Digest magazine. "You have to be able to shape your ball around that place. It's a little awkward in that you don't really hit a lot of drivers, and when you do hit driver, you're usually shaping it one way or the other, so you really have to be in control. I think that's the way to play golf, not just to go out there and bomb away, throw darts, and it becomes a putting contest."

There was a sense at the 2001 US Open, when Woods finished in a tie for 12th place, that the course didn't really fit his eye, however, the resident professional at Southern Hills, Dave Bryan, believes things could be different this week. "Tiger can win here now, I don't think he was prepared to win in 2001.

He'll take what the hole gives him now, he won't force the issue which I think is something he did in his younger days."

If Woods is not entirely sure at this stage how the course will be presented, he is mindful of the one and only PGA championship constant . . . searing heat.

With temperatures around the 100 degree mark expected in Tulsa, he added:

"Endurance will be a part of it, especially if you're near the lead. That means you'll be out in the afternoon when it's the hottest. I can tell you that we won't be needing to bring any sweaters."

With the conditions in mind, the Southern Hills' greenkeeping staff have 24 giant electric fans available to cool the greens if needed. It's a strong possibility that the fans will be plugged in during practice rounds, and even on occasions during the tournament proper if the putting surfaces are in danger of burning up. There was an outcry in 2001 when the course's ninth and 18th greens were running at different speeds to the other putting surfaces, with the 18th in particular generating a lot controversy in the final round. Stewart Cink threeputted from 12 feet to miss out on the play-off with Brooks and Goosen by a stroke, Brooks also three-putted from 50 feet while Goosen famously missed from just two feet to win the title outright.

All of which prompted a typically wry summary of the farcical proceedings at the closing hole from the veteran American writer, Dan Jenkins. "The USGA were shocked to find that the US Open was going to be played at Southern Hills that week.

They desperately tried to fix things by calling off the mowers and watering the offending greens. They only had their people visiting the site since August 1999, so why would you expect them to have everything ready for the US Open?

But at least they got a memo out to the players to let them know they were working on it."

With reconstruction work on both greens now completed, and with the responsibility for the course set-up passing from the USGA to the PGA of America, it seems that the havoc of 2001 will not be repeated.

"The USGA and the PGA of America have two different philosophies regarding how they prepare courses, " said Woods. "The PGA has always stressed testing the players while making it fair, while the USGA has always tried to get as close as they possibly could to the line between fair and unfair.

The PGA is a stern test, but it's always playable."

Echoing Woods, the PGA's director of tournaments, Kerry Haigh, is not likely to make Southern Hills as demanding a challenge as the brutally difficult Oakmont where five over par was the winning score. "Some players will be more suited to a certain set-up than others, " Haigh explained. "That's part of the territory. I don't like dictating to a player how he has to play a hole, I like to give him a risk-reward choice. Score is not really the issue."

Given that no European has won the fourth major in the modern era, it might be too much to ask of Harrington to make it two titles in a row. But if Woods rediscovers the sort of relentless form that deserted him at Carnoustie, and if Harrington has the mental energy to come through to the final hour of another championship, we could well have another Duel in the Sun.

FIVE TO FOLLOW AT SOUTHERN HILLS

PHIL MICKELSON (US) Age 37 World Ranking 3 Majors 3 Recent form, from Sunday in Loch Lomond to Rubber City, does not give much comfort to backers. But if Butch Harmon can fine tune the swing and Phil unscramble his brain, he possesses the required greenside silkiness to do the biz at Southern Hills.
Betting 12/1 P Power; 14/1 W Hill

ERNIE ELS (South Africa) Age 37 World Ranking 4 Majors 3 Rumours of his resurrection may have been exaggerated. He has not been finding it easy to win big. The '05 knee injury and a recent switch to Callaway are now history, or so Jos would have him believe. If he avoids his now customary run of DBs and snowmen (8s) should be in the hunt. Betting 20/1 P Power; 16/1 W Hill

ANDERS ROMERO (Argentina) Age 26 World Ranking 51 Majors None True phenom or flash in the pan? His swashbuckling neoSevesque style may endear him to the jaded golf media but he may be punished by the claustrophobia of the Tulsa track . Doesn't lack self belief or skill and had requisite Tiger-blooding at Akron so should do better this time. Betting 50/1 P Power; 66/1 W Hill

ZACH JOHNSON Age 31 World Ranking 15 Majors 1 His 65 second-round at Firestone suggests he have the necessary short game to handle Perry Maxwell's awkward creation in Southern Hills. Though the length of the track, 7,131yds, and the par 4 18th (465 yds) in particular, may pose problem for the gutsy Johnson. Still, he'll have God on his side. Betting 50/1 P Power; 50/1 W Hill

PAUL CASEY Age 30 World Ranking 18 Majors None His Major form this year (T10 Masters, T10 US Open, T27 British Open) suggests a Major victory is beckoning but Casey has proclivity for not delivering on initial promise. Still has buckets of talent and claims that Harrington's Open victory has emboldened the Europeans. Betting 66/1 P Power; 50/1 W Hill