So much motivation, yet so many obstacles.

The biggest might be the Black Course at Bethpage, already a beast with five par 4s longer than 500 yards. It is playing even longer because of rain that has soaked Long Island for the last month, with a nasty forecast of showers most of the week.

“From tee to green, this golf course is all you want,” Woods said.

The other obstacle is Woods himself.

Not only is he the defending champion at the U.S. Open, he is the defending champion at Bethpage, the only player to finish under par in 2002 when he held off a Sunday rally from Mickelson.

With two victories in seven starts since returning from knee surgery, Woods appears to be hitting his stride. He is coming off a victory two weeks ago in the Memorial, where he rallied from a four-shot deficit to win with a 65.

Mickelson also is a two-time winner this year, at Riviera and Doral. He says he is swing as good as ever, working hard on a baby cut that allows him to control his tee shots. The greens are among the flattest for a major, and they will be slightly slower than the USGA would prefer because of all the rain.

But is it too much to ask for Mickelson to block out so much going on in his personal life?

He has done this before. Ten years ago at Pinehurst No. 2, he famously carried a pager in his golf bag because his wife was expecting their first child. Mickelson lost that U.S. Open when Payne Stewart holed a 15-foot par putt on the final hole, and Lefty arrived home just in time for the birth.

But this is far different.

“That was a week where we were excited about what’s to come,” he said. “And this is an entirely opposite feel, because we’re scared about what’s going to come.”

Mickelson spent seven hours at Bethpage Black last week, and got in 18 holes yesterday under refreshing sunshine. The test begins today, when he plays in the afternoon with Retief Goosen and Ernie Els.

“You’ve got to expect him to contend to win,” Harmon said. “He loves this golf course. He’s playing extremely well. He got a lot of emotions right now, but I think the fans will help him.”

The question is whether Mickelson can keep his focus over 72 holes of the toughest test in golf, which might be even harder with so many fans showering him with so much support.

Mickelson decided last month to take a private family matter public, which exposes he and Amy to even more emotions. One reason she chose to stay home was to avoid seeing so many friends and fans, and the tears that would be sure to follow.