Graeme McDowell hopes for repeat performance

McDowell claimed his first major title by coming from three strokes back in the final round to overtake an unravelling Dustin Johnson, and held off luminaries Ernie Els, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to raise the silver US trophy.

The 31-year-old followed that by clinching the winning point for Europe in their Ryder Cup victory over the United States in Wales, and for added measure capped the fairytale season by beating Woods head-to-head in the American's own tournament at Sherwood Country Club.

"To have the kind of season I had last year was just amazing. It was dream stuff," said McDowell after getting his first look at Congressional, the venue for next week's US Open.

McDowell became the first European player since Briton Tony Jacklin in 1970 to win the US Open and got to share the occasion with his father, Kenny.

"To pick that trophy up at Pebble Beach last June was definitely one of the greatest moments of my life," he said. "I would take a major anywhere, any time, but Pebble Beach on Father's Day with my dad there and one of the most legendary golf courses on the planet. It was great for that dream to come true.

"Being announced around the world as US Open champion, it still gives me the goosebumps, still puts a smile on my face on the first tee on a Thursday morning anywhere on the planet. It's been great."

This season, McDowell decided to give the US Tour a whirl, to mixed results. He finished third at the Tournament of Champions, tied for ninth at the WGC-Accenture Match Play and tied for sixth at the Honda Classic. But in the last six US events he missed two cuts, including the Masters in April, and his best finish has been a tie for 33rd at last month's Players Championship.

"To think that I could even remotely replicate that (his 2010 campaign] in 2011 was definitely a difficult task, and I've definitely tried to adjust my expectations this year accordingly," he said.

"It's exciting to defend any title, but a major championship is extra special, and I realise when that gun goes off on the first tee on Thursday morning, it's not my title anymore."

McDowell sent a Twitter message to his followers while he played his first practice round at Congressional that no one would break par in the championship at the long layout. Yet he goes in with a good feeling about how his game matches the usual rigors of a US Open.

"US Opens fit my style of game," he said. "I'm not a bomber, I'm a mid-range guy, 285, 290 (yards]. I guess that's mid-range these days. I feel like I've always had the mental toughness for a US Open-style set-up."

McDowell said he believes his game is on the rebound now, but remains philosophical."The game can beat you up sometimes, and I'm certainly starting to appreciate the good times now," he said. "You've got to enjoy them, and I'm glad I did last year."