HOYLAKE, England -- Tiger Woods was an early arrival to the British Open with hopes of avoiding an early departure. Phil McConkey Womens Jersey . Woods has played only two competitive rounds in the last four months because of back pain that led to surgery. Thats why he chose to get to England a day earlier than usual -- Saturday -- to get acclimated to links golf at Royal Liverpool. Its nothing like he remembers from his two-shot victory in 2006. Hoylake was brown and dusty that year, and the ball was bouncing along at such speed that Woods hit only one driver the entire week. That was on the 16th hole, and the shot wound up on the 17th fairway. He still made birdie. "The golf course is a little bit softer than what it was in 06," Woods said on Tuesday. "Ive played three practice rounds now and have had three different winds. So thats been helpful to be able to see the golf course in different conditions." As an example of the change, Woods pulled out a driver on the par-5 fifth hole with the wind in his face. His tee shot landed in the fairway. That he already has played three practice rounds has been encouraging. Woods missed the cut at Congressional in his return to competition three weeks ago, though he was pleased that he felt no pain from March 31 back surgery. He even has been to the gym twice in the last couple of days. Woods played 12 holes on Saturday and a full 18 on Sunday and Tuesday, taking a break Monday to work out and then go to the practice range. "Its one of the reasons why I came over a little earlier," he said. " I went to Geneva for a day with Rolex, but I came here a day earlier than I normally would to have an extra day in there, as well as possibly taking a day off, if need be. And it worked out." As for his goals? They havent changed. When asked what would be a reasonable result in his first major of the year, Woods replied, "First. "Thats always the case." The back surgery forced him to miss the Masters for the first time, and then the U.S. Open. The last time Woods had this much time off with so little competition before a major was in 2010 when he returned from the chaos in his personal life. He tied for fourth at the Masters. It might help that he at least has won at Royal Liverpool, even if the course has changed dramatically. Woods has changed, too. His victory eight years ago produced more raw emotion than ever for Woods. It was his first major since the death of his father, Earl, two months earlier. He sobbed on the shoulders of his caddie and then his wife. Woods now has a different caddie and he is divorced. "My life has certainly changed a lot since then," Woods said. "That was a very emotional week. As you all know, I pressed pretty hard at Augusta that year, trying to win it, because it was the last time my dad was ever going to see me play a major championship. And then I didnt play well at the (U.S.) Open -- missed the cut there miserably. And then came here and just felt at peace. I really, really played well. On Sunday, I really felt calm out there. "It was surreal at the time. Ive had a few moments like that in majors where Ive felt that way on a Sunday. And that was certainly one of them." The others were at the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 shots; the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which he won by 15 shots; and 2000 British Open at St. Andrews, which he won by eight shots to complete the career Grand Slam. Woods has won the career slam twice more since then, running his total to 14 majors by winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 despite not having played in two months because of torn ligaments in his left knee and a double stress fracture in his left leg. He said that victory, with the odds against him, should be a reminder not to count him out. And hes not ruling out his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus and his 18 majors. Woods, who is 38, was asked if he would play well into his 40s and even his early 50s if it meant a chance to break the Nicklaus benchmark. "Hopefully, I have it done by then. But Im really looking forward to that cart," he said, referring to Champions Tour players being allowed to ride in a cart. Doug Kotar Womens Jersey . Belfort was originally schedule to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24, but a Nevada State Athletic Commission ban on testosterone replacement therapy forced the former light heavyweight champ to withdraw. Daniel Jones Jersey . - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has an agreement to bring back outside linebacker Parys Haralson on a one-year deal. http://www.authenticnygiantspro.com/Michael-strahan-giants-jersey/ . PAUL, Minn – The clock lingered for what seemed like an interminable two minutes and 51 seconds before Mark Fraser finally escaped to the bench during a wildly one-sided first period of an eventual loss to Boston.DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars used a strong power play to stay in the Western Conference playoff chase on Monday night. Ray Whitney and Tyler Seguin scored with a man advantage and Dallas held off the Winnipeg Jets 2-1. "Power plays for us won it, and the power play for them got them back into it," Whitney said. The victory allowed Dallas to move within a point of the Phoenix Coyotes for the Western Conferences final playoff spot. The Stars have missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. Kari Lehtonen, whose 32 saves for Dallas included 14 in the third period, didnt give up a goal until the Jets Bryan Little scored with 2:44 remaining. Winnipeg had a 4-on-3 power play, and added a fifth skater by pulling goalie Al Montoya. "Special teams won the game, and the goalie made saves when he needed to," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "Kari was excellent. His saves were great, and his puck handling really helped us. He made some good passes." Stars captain Jamie Benn assisted on both goals. The Jets continued to fade in the post-season race. "It is (tough to make a playoff push like this)," Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice said. "The final results havent been good enough for our team. Were just getting closer to it. Were not there." The Jets are 2-6-3 in their past 11 games. One of the victories was a 7-2 rout of visiting Dallas eight days earlier. Ruff said he did not use that game as motivation. "I didnt even talk about last week. We had a tough night in goal, and when you start chasing the game, it can get ugly." Dallas defence has allowed only two goals in the past two games after giving up 16 in the previous three, all losses. Ruff said: "I think weve cleaned up the individual mistakes." The Stars have 79 points. Phoenix received a point for an overtime loss against the Rangers to reach 80. Whitney said that the team did some scoreboard watching. "We all look up to see the out-of-town scores. Everybody these last three weeks will be doing that." He scored 5:32 into the game from the left faceoff circle on a slap shot that went off Montoya and into the upper left corner. Late in the period, Dallas Valeri Nichushkin beat two defenders for a breakaway on the power play. Montoya, who finished with 25 saves, stoppeed the rookies backhand shot. Phil Simms Jersey. Winnipegs best chances came midway through the first, but Lehtonen stopped Blake Wheeler in close and saved Jim Slaters wraparound attempt. The Stars finished the period with a 12-11 edge in shots, and a 1-0 lead. Just 13 seconds into Dallas third power play, Tyler Seguin pulled the puck out of a pile in front and lifted a shot over Montoya at 16:09 of the second. Seguins 32nd goal was his sixth in five games against Winnipeg this season. His 10 points against the Jets are his highest total against any opponent. Winnipeg nearly scored on its first power play of the game. With two minutes remaining in the second, Lehtonen reached back to smother the puck after a shot from the blue line bounced off the crossbar. Defence dominated in a period when the Stars outshot the Jets 9-7. Winnipeg spent much of the third period in the Dallas end, peppering Lehtonen with 15 shots, but fell a goal short. "I thought we battled hard to try and get back in the game for the most part, especially the third," Little said. "We never really gave up and we made a push kind of like we did last game and just like last game, we came one short again." Whitney said: "I thought in the third we kind of sat back a little bit and played prevent D. When the situation tightens these last 11 games, youre going to see more of that." NOTES: Jets captain Andrew Ladd missed the game because his wife, Brandi, gave birth to a baby girl Sunday. He is expected to rejoin the team Thursday at San Jose for the second game of a five-game trip. Evander Kane joined Little and Michael Frolik on the first line. ... Goalie Ondrej Pavelec missed his fifth consecutive game because of an upper body injury. Wheeler left the ice in the third period after skating into an open door by the Dallas bench. He later rejoined his teammates on Winnipegs bench. . Sergei Gonchars first-period assist was his eighth in the past six games against the Jets. ... Benn has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his past 11 games. ... The Stars last game with more than one power-play goal was March 6. ... Ruff said Erik Cole, who has missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury, would not accompany the team to Chicago for Tuesdays game against the Blackhawks. ' ' '