Woods heads field at last major

Tulsa, 9-12 August

Starts: Thursday, 9 August
Ends: Sunday, 12 August
Venue: Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa

Live coverage on the BBC Sport website and Radio Five Live (Fri: 2130-0000 BST, Sun: 2100-0000) and Five Live Sports Extra on Sat: 2100-0030.

The final major of 2007, the USPGA Championship, gets under way at the Southern Hills Country Club, Oklahoma at 1330 BST on Thursday.

World number one Tiger Woods has yet to win a major this season and is favourite to defend his title in Tulsa.

The American three-time champion joked: "This is your last opportunity to win one if you haven't gotten one yet."

Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington claimed the other three majors - all first-time major winners.

There could well be another surprise winner at the 89th USPGA as searing temperatures are expected to play their part over the four days.

Throughout its history a total of 44 players have made the USPGA Championship their first major title.

Organisers have issued an excessive heat warning with temperatures expected to reach up to 38C. The championship is being billed as potentially the hottest major ever.

The heat is expected to suit the home players better, but Ireland's Padraig Harrington, who claimed his first major at the Open last month, does not expect it to affect him.

"I see it as a factor to be looked after but not something that I'm in any way worried about," Harrington, the world number six, said.

"I would probably say it is a little bit of an advantage for me because I acclimatise well."

Harrington is full of confidence after his play-off win over Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie.

"At this stage I've got to believe I have more of a chance and I'll convince myself of that by Thursday morning," he said.

Garcia insists he has recovered from his Open heartbreak where, after leading all four rounds, he eventually succumbed to Harrington.

"I decided to get all of the positive things out of it and there were a lot of positives," said the Spanish 27-year-old.

"Hopefully I will have a shot at winning the PGA and I feel it is just a matter of time before I win a major."

Harrington and Garcia will lead Europe's USPGA charge. A European has not won the title since Scottish-born Tommy Armour in 1930 - though by that time he was a naturalised American.

Swedish world number nine Henrik Stenson and English duo Luke Donald (12) and Justin Rose (16) will also expect to perform well.

Rose marked his potential for a good run in Oklahoma by finishing second to Woods at the warm-up event at the WGC Invitational.

"We all respect Tiger but we all know you can't dominate every week," Rose told BBC Sport.

"I've been around long enough to know I can't get ahead of myself but I could win (a major) with a little bit of luck on my side."

Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and David Howell are also in action, alongside English quartet Simon Dyson, Ian Poulter, Nick Dougherty and Graeme Storm.

In the American camp alongside favourite Woods, Phil Mickelson is hoping to claim a major for the fourth straight year, but there are still concerns over his wrist injury.

The left-hander failed to make the cut at the US Open and the Open, but is confident he is slowly getting back on track.

"I'm really excited about getting back out and playing," said the 2005 champion.

"Last week was the first week that I didn't have to numb up the back of my hand to be able to hit balls."

World number two Jim Furyk will also be in the mix despite a back problem while lesser known names such as Brett Wetterich and Hunter Mahan could spring a surprise.