Two-time defending PGA Champion Tiger Woods, who plans to return to competition this month at the U.S. Open, has more than a bag full of respect for Oakland Hills Country Club.

The site of the 90th PGA Championship, Aug. 4-10, Woods' observations of the renowned layout in Bloomfield Township, Mich., remains clear.

"I played there in '96 as an amateur (in the U.S. Open) and then I played in the Ryder Cup in 2004 and definitely it's one of the hardest courses that you can play," said Woods, who was featured via satellite Monday at the 90th PGA Championship Media Day. "The greens are absolutely demanding."

Following the Masters, Woods underwent surgery to remove cartilage in his left knee, and will have spent nearly two months out of competition before entering the U.S. Open, June 12-15.

"I really do miss it," said Woods. "I really do miss being in that competitive environment. That's the atmosphere in general. I do miss it."

Woods recalled his appearance in the 1996 U.S. Open, which he called "a big turning point for me as an amateur."

"I led the U.S. Open at one point," he recalled. "I was tied for the lead. Early in that back nine on Thursday, and collapsed on that coming in. It was all predicated on a ruling that I had on what was it, 14? And, I just let that upset me and then played terrible coming in. But the second round, Friday's round is what really turned my sights into possibly turning pro later that summer.

"That's when I went out and shot 69 to make the cut. That was a big turning point for me as an amateur and then I played well at the British Open later that year and then obviously won the [U.S.] Amateur."

Woods admitted that his left knee has become a focal point of his career health issues.

"That's been kind of where the force of my golf swing has taken basically the brunt of it," said Woods. "And, it's one of the reasons why I made the changes to what Hank (Haney) and I have been working on over the years, to try to get rid of some of that, alleviate the strain of that, so that I can play for a longer duration. And, it's been working, but still I've done it for so long people don't realize I've been playing golf for basically 30 years now."

Woods calls the rigorous workout regimen that he is famous for, 'his salvation.'

"That's the only thing that has kept me going," he said. "If I didn't have the leg as strong as it is, I would have had more damage earlier on. So the workouts have certainly saved me and have allowed me to play as long and as hard as I've wanted to. I'm very thankful I've worked out as hard as I have. If I hadn't, I would have certainly been in much [worse] shape earlier on in my career."

Woods has yet to complete an 18-hole practice session, but has been building his endurance and plans to be playing more than 18 holes a day in the coming week.

Woods will arrive at Oakland Hills in August with the opportunity to join Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers with five PGA Championship titles. He said that the fact the PGA Championship is the final major of the year creates "a sense of urgency."

"You understand there's really no other major to prepare for after that," he said. "So, you have to get it done here. And especially since there have been times when I haven't won a major that year, and I've always considered that a major championship means it's a great year. It turns a good year into a great year."

Viewers of the Season's Final Major will be able to watch some 28 hours of Championship coverage by CBS and TNT networks, touching more than 194 countries and territories and with a household reach of more than 594 million.

It is the 18th consecutive PGA Championship covered by CBS, the 17th consecutive season that Turner Sports has been part of the coverage and the 10th year that it has been presented on TNT.

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