Mamaroneck, N.Y. ? One of Tiger Woods’ greatest thrills was winning on Father’s Day.

It was a tradition in the Woods’ household when he was young. The son would play 18 holes with his father at Navy Golf Course in Long Beach, Calif., then they would go home to watch the conclusion of the U.S. Open.

“Father’s Day was actually a pretty cool day,” Woods said Tuesday. “I would always try to beat my dad on the golf course, then come back home and catch the back nine of the U.S. Open. That’s usually how it worked when I was growing up.”

It didn’t always work out in his favor. He didn’t always win.

Oh, but he tried, as he does now.

The U.S. Open always ends on Father’s Day, an occasion that rarely has taken on such significance in the days leading up to this major.

Woods is coming off a nine-week break from golf, the longest of his career. He hasn’t hit a meaningful shot since Sunday afternoon at Augusta National when he finished three shots behind Phil Mickelson in the Masters. Earl Woods – his father, best friend, teacher and role model – died a month later of cancer at age 74.

Emotions are sure to be running high if Woods finds himself in contention on the back nine Sunday at Winged Foot, a scenario that will be difficult to ignore with a Nike commercial that begins airing this week.

Set to the music of The Zombies (“This Will Be Our Year”), the commercial shows some two dozen pictures and video clips of Woods and his father, some of them on the golf course, one scene of Earl Woods hitting balls into a net in their garage as Tiger sits in a chair waiting his turn, twirling a club in his hands.

“To Dad, and fathers everywhere,” is the message at the end of the 30-second spot.

Woods said the commercial was in the works well before his father took a turn for the worse over the Christmas holidays and never improved, and that it was a tribute to “make sure all fathers are recognized and appreciated.”