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Things are coming together - Woods

Tiger Woods finished in a tie for fourth at the recent US Open at Pebble Beach © Getty Images

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• Profile: Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods believes he is close to rediscovering his best form as he prepares to defend his AT&T National title at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia.

The world No. 1 claimed his last win at the Australian Masters in November, while the last of his 71 PGA Tour titles came at the BMW Championship eight months ago, and he is yet to hit top form this season despite an encouraging return to action at the Masters in April following a self-imposed exile from the game.

There were signs of the old Tiger at Pebble Beach as he shot a back-nine 30 during the third round of the US Open and the American feels the confidence he gained from finishing fourth at the second major of the year is an indication that his game is coming together ahead of a busy summer of action.

"The amount of golf I have played this year is normally the amount I play through March but I'm starting to head in the right direction," Woods said. "I thought I played pretty good at the US Open. I really did.

"I have had stretches of good golf this year but I have only done it for like nine holes so to do it at a US Open where I needed to get back into the tournament felt really good, especially coming at Pebble Beach when guys were finding it tough.

"The momentum I took from that has certainly carried forward, particularly in my practice sessions. The things I have been working on are coming together.

"As far as me winning here is concerned, I've just got to be more persistent and string together more rounds like I did on Saturday at the US Open. That was a nice step in the right direction and is the best that I have played this year. That day I played two or three great holes and then had a bad one but managed to recover and then played 12 holes of really good golf."

The 14-time major champion has been without a coach since splitting with Hank Haney in May, but insists he is more than capable of keeping on top of his swing with the simple use of a video camera.

"The video doesn't lie," Woods said. "If you get the proper angles then it is pretty simple whether the club is on plane or not. At the US Open I was on plane for about 12 holes in my final round which is not too bad."

The 34-year-old dismissed speculation suggesting a rift between him and his caddy Steve Williams following comments made by the 14-time major champion after the final round at Pebble Beach.

"You guys are reading way too much into it," he said. "I was asked what had gone wrong and I said I had made three mental mistakes. They were mistakes I don't normally make. Do Stevie and I make mistakes on the golf course? Of course we do. We are not perfect and we made mistakes at the wrong time at Pebble.

"We are both great competitors and we both want to win but we just made a couple of mistakes. Hopefully that won't happen this week and we can win an event."

Woods also brushed off suggestions the neck injury that forced him to pull out of the Players Championship at Sawgrass back in May was still affecting his game.

"The neck is better than it was then. Is it where I want it to be? No. But it is what it is."

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