sport news Long Island is giddy at the thought of another Tiger Woods miracle at the PGA ...

One month on from a day in golf that was simply like no other, Tiger Woods has returned, and the sporting world waits to see if the miracle man can continue the fairytale in New York.

The genteel setting of Augusta National and the mystique of the Masters have been swapped for the once-overlooked US PGA Championship and the unvarnished beauty of Bethpage Black.

From the most exclusive club in America we've moved on to perhaps the nation's best municipal course and a public venue that revels in its unofficial title of the 'People's Country Club'.

Tiger Woods has been practising at Bethpage Black Course ahead of the first round

Tiger Woods has been practising at Bethpage Black Course ahead of the first round

There will be enormous support for the golfing legend following his Masters win in April

There will be enormous support for the golfing legend following his Masters win in April

Yes, they really do sleep in their cars overnight for the chance to play their beloved Black course, but this week they're riding the Long Island Rail Road from Manhattan and all points west in the hope of witnessing Tiger repeat his victory here in the 2002 US Open.

Given the privations so many usually put up with to secure a tee-time here, expect the vast majority of the 60,000 spectators to be in place when Woods tees off at 8.24am (1.24pm BST) in the first round on Thursday. 

Imagine the scenes if Tiger is in contention on Friday afternoon, once a few beers have been consumed, and over the weekend?

It was loud enough in this event in St Louis last year, when he pushed Brooks Koepka all the way. It was louder still when he claimed the Masters.

But this has the potential to make the noise heard at a Ryder Cup feel almost cathedral-like by comparison.

Things will probably change once the action gets under way but right now everything is seen through a Woods prism. Superstars in their own right come into the interview room and find themselves answering questions about Tiger. 

Chat shows debate if he can win another major, can he catch Jack Nicklaus's total of 18 majors, will his back hold up for a few years? Who can win the US PGA has become almost incidental, unless it's whether Tiger can win.

Appropriately, Woods will begin with the defending champion Koepka and Claret Jug holder Francesco Molinari for company in the first two rounds.

Over the last three majors, it's almost like this starry trio have been conducting their own private battle for supremacy and it's only right they emerged from the trinity with an equal share.

At the Open at Carnoustie last July, it was the tough Italian who came out on top as Woods rekindled the memory of what it's like to be in contention at a major, eventually finishing tied sixth.   

Woods has plenty of hype behind him but in reality the course will be extremely tough

Woods has plenty of hype behind him but in reality the course will be extremely tough 

A month later, Woods shot his lowest 72-hole total in a major, only to find Koepka unmoved. But at Augusta he was not to be denied, as Molinari fell apart over the final seven holes and Koepka failed narrowly to keep pace.

Now it's Bethpage, where there will positively be no repeat of the 16-under-par score Koepka delivered at Bellerive last August. Anyone in the field

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