Adam Scott knows that to win his second major he probably has to beat Tiger Woods at some point, so why not start on Friday.
World No 3 and Masters champion Scott, the only man capable of winning the Grand Slam this year, opens his account grouped on both Fridayand Saturday with world No 1 Woods and world No 2 Rory McIlroy - and he's excited at that prospect.
Fourteen-times major winner Woods, the owner of three US Open titles, is a hot favourite to break his five-year major championship drought following his resurgence this year but Scott isn't about to lie down.
"His form is pretty good, he's won four times this year. It will be a fun week with some energy and electricity, playing with him at any time there always is," Scott said yesterday.
"And given the hype around this grouping and being a major, it's going to be an intense couple of days.
"But, essentially, that's what we're playing for. That's a pairing you'd hope for on Sunday, also, because if you don't enjoy that kind of stuff it's going to be tough for you to have success out here.
"At some point if you're playing well and winning a tournament you're going to have to try and beat him.
"That's why you spend the hours and test yourself and I'm looking forward to that Thursday and Friday."
Scott is no stranger to the US Open power grouping, having been the third man of the world top three in 2008 at Torrey Pines with Woods and Phil Mickelson, the last major Woods won.
Since Woods and Mickelson are both Southern California natives the scenes at Torrey were some of the craziest seen in a major, with spectators 30 deep for two days.
Now Scott is back at world No 3 but this time he's also a major champion and it is he, not Woods, who has caddie Steve Williams on the bag.
"I think anyone would have felt like the third wheel that week," Scott said.
"Remembering back to Torrey Pines, the hype was enormous around that pairing and it was an experience that I'll never forget.
"I've never seen that many people on a Thursday morning on the first tee. It was a great atmosphere.
"I think this year obviously there's a lot of focus on Tiger and Rory. I know what to expect out there and I'm probably also the third wheel this week."
