Danny Willett is relishing the challenge posed by Oakmont Country Club as he arrives at the US Open looking to make it back-to-back Major Championships.
The Englishman claimed his first Major triumph as he won the Green Jacket at the Masters Tournament in April but finishing the week with another five under total will be a tall task in Pennsylvania.
Oakmont is regarded as one of the toughest courses in North America, with Angel Cabrera claiming victory with a five over total the last time the US Open was staged here in 2007.
But after playing his first nine holes at the layout on Monday, Willett cannot wait to properly get his teeth into a course which he rates as "great fun".
"It's a great golf course, great fun," he said. "There's a lot of different shots you can play.
"I think it gives you a lot of options off the tee depending upon how aggressive you want to play, but then you have to be really careful on where you place your ball around the green.
"I think the onus is on fairways and greens this week, definitely, to try to give yourself the easiest way of making par.
I think you're going to see a lot of different plays around this golf course, which I think is great - Danny Willett
While Willett is looking forward to testing himself this week, the 28 year old admits the challenge will be fierce, with five of the last ten US Opens being won at level or over par.
And the two-time winner on the European Tour this season is not ruling out a repeat of the five over winning total seen nine years ago.
"US Opens are always tough," he said. "Usually, these places, they are just brutal. You know you've just got to hit good shot after good shot after good shot, hopefully make a few putts.
"Five over par on this golf course, after playing a few hours yesterday, for four rounds is a pretty good score.
You look at the strength of the field and it would be fantastic to even be somewhere thereabouts come Sunday - Danny Willett
Willett admits becoming a Masters champion has changed his life completely but he has not let it distract from his game, taking the first-round lead at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation, before finishing third at the BMW PGA Championship.
"It doesn't mean you don't get home and you don't work hard, you don't practise, you don't train," he added.
"We had a few weeks celebrating and stuff but then, obviously, when we made the decision to play the Players, it was back to business and try to get some work done."
Defending champion Jordan Spieth captured the imagination of the golfing world last year as he added the US Open title to his Green Jacket, prompting thoughts of an elusive calendar Grand Slam.
Now Willett has a chance to set the ball rolling all over again but he admits that is not at the forefront of his mind.
"You have got to keep breaking it down," he said. "You can't look at it as a whole. Running up to this week, you are the only guy that can do it in the same year.
"But that's not to say you're not going to win the Masters again and have another chance to do it a few more times in your career.
"It's just nice that we have got that chance."
