CHASKA, Minnesota (Reuters) — Four-time winner Tiger Woods will command the spotlight when he tees off in Thursday's opening round of the US PGA Championship in pursuit of his 15th major victory and first this year.

The American world number one, comfortably the best player of his generation, has not triumphed in a grand slam event since his remarkable playoff win at the 2008 US Open.

He was then sidelined for eight months while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery before returning to the PGA Tour in late February.

Although Woods defines his career by the number of majors he accumulates in his trophy cabinet, he is prepared to relax his goal for this year because of the circumstances surrounding his left knee.

''I don't think any of us would have thought I could have won this many events this year,'' said Woods, who has clinched five PGA Tour titles this season, including two in the last two weeks.

''To win, and not only win but be as consistent as I've been the entire year coming back, that's one of the things I'm probably the most proud of.

''If you had asked me at the beginning of the year before I even played whether I'd have five wins by now, I couldn't see it, because walking 18 holes was going to be a task.''

Fellow American Stewart Cink, who won his first major title at last month's British Open, echoed the thoughts of many when assessing Woods's prospects at Hazeltine National this week.

''I'd say he's got a pretty good chance, probably better than anybody else in the field,'' said Cink, a six-times champion on the PGA Tour.

''He's driving it pretty well. He's got a short game that history has never known, he's got the clutch putting that history has never known and he's got the ultimate tank of confidence to draw from. So case closed.''