Graeme McDowell has said he is feeling relaxed and confident going into the defence of his US Open title later this week as Congressional.
Following his first practice round on the course, during which he played with Shane Lowry and John Ellis, he said he was "buzzing".
He told the BBC: "My energy levels are good and I really enjoyed my practice round. The golf course is up to speed and I can see a way around it."
The man from Portrush also acknowledged that the course at Congressional will be a more exacting examination of his long game than Pebble Beach was in 2010, where he claimed his first major.
McDowell recently told Sky Sports that handing the trophy back would be an emotional experience as it has travelled around the world with him for 12 months but he noted that the experience of being a major winner has given him the drive to add more wins to his CV.
Amateur player Peter Uihlein and UK Open champion Louis Oosthuizen will be joining McDowell on the tee on the first morning of the 2011 US Open.