This year's edition of the US Open is certainly going to be one of the most spectacular in its recent history. And that's not because Tiger Woods decided to make his comeback into the PGA Tour after his father passed away, but because he is finally going to have a tough competitor - for the first time since 1999. His name leaves no room for other words. We're talking about legendary Phil Mickelson.

Winner of the last two majors titles in the PGA Tour, Mickelson is considered to be the main contender for this year's US Open title. While everybody is wondering how will tiger Woods get back into the game after almost two months of absence, he cannot help it to fell very confident about the tournament to come.

"I'm here to compete and play and try to win this championship. I know that Dad would still want me to go out there and grind it and give it my best, and that's what I'll always do. That's what I will certainly try to do this week", said Woods on Tuesday.

He added: "The two times I've taken my longest breaks have been after my knee surgery in 2002 and this past winter, taking six weeks off or whatever it was. Both times I've come back and I've won. It's just one of those things where it's your preparation, your practice and your attention to detail when you are preparing. That's something that I've learned and I've done very well, I think, in the past. It's applied to this stretch. I've had plenty of time to get ready."

On the other hand, Phil Mickelson seems very confident too when it comes to playing his 16th US Open. Considering the great rivalry between the two great players - arguably the greatest in golf's modern era - he feels ready step up to the challenge: "I've come to the point where I enjoy the challenge of trying to be successful in these very difficult tests of golf. I know I can play well in this tournament, even though it doesn't necessarily fit my perception of how I've played with the thick rough and so on. I still have had some success here, and all I'm trying to do is be successful on this one golf course at this one event".

The US Open will go under way today, while the 18th of June will give us the new - or maybe the same - champion.