Tiger Woods to address media Tuesday

Reporting from Pebble Beach, Calif. -- Tiger Woods played a scrutiny-free U.S. Open practice round Monday, teeing off at his customary 7 a.m. with Dustin Johnson and his Isleworth Country Club buddy, Arjun Atwal.

Woods skipped past reporters on the 18th green but will address the media at noon Tuesday.

Woods will be asked about his career highlight — his dominant, 15-shot victory at the 2000 Pebble Beach Open — and those 2010 lowlights, namely his missed cut at Quail Hollow and withdrawal from the Players Championship because of a neck injury.

He has played just once since then, tying for 19th at the Memorial two weeks ago.

Woods will be paired with Ernie Els and Lee Westwood for his first two rounds, teeing off at 1:36 p.m. Thursday.

Woods has been the world’s No. 1 for five years, but that top spot is in jeopardy. Phil Mickelson can seize it by winning his first U.S. Open or by various combinations. If Woods misses the cut, Mickelson would need no worse than a two-way tie for third.

Fan favorite

Scott Langley’s cheering section will include University of Illinois teammates, his girlfriend, parents, brother, grandfather, aunts and uncles, various friends and his caddie’s family.

“I brought just about everybody from the U.S.A., I think,” he said.

Langley’s bandwagon grew after he won the NCAA championship two weeks ago in Tennessee. He entered the event ranked 26th, according to Golfweek.

He qualified for the U.S. Open by firing 66-66 at the St. Louis sectional, near his hometown of Manchester, Mo.

“My initial goal is to obviously make the cut,” the 21-year-old lefty said. “But I’m going to play to win.”

Chip-ins

Rocco Mediate earned a late spot in the field because Westwood, winner of the St. Jude Classic, already was exempt. Mediate dueled Woods in a 2008 playoff at Torrey Pines.... Monday’s high was just 59 degrees, and more of the same is expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

sports@latimes.com