By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent

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Padraig Harrington, leading European hope for victory in the US Open starting tomorrow, believes the way to succeed is to be "the most boring golfer around this week".

Five US Opens have taught Harrington the way to win and he says: "You've got to hit it straight and on the green.

"This event definitely requires more discipline than any other tournament. You have to set out a game plan and stick to it religiously."

The last European winner was Tony Jacklin in 1970 and on that Harrington, fifth in 2000 and eighth last year, comments: "It's not really what we are familiar with.

"The courses we play on and the weather we have asks for a little bit more imagination and flair in your game. A US Open is the one that really tests your ability to hit it straight, hit it on the green and two-putt.

"It tests your pure focus never to go at a pin position, just hit it in the middle of the green.

"It tests all the sort of strengths of golf that you would possibly put down in a perfect golf game. You want to be sort of like a machine.

"I enjoy it because it's different. I say unimaginative, but it's an exceptionally hard test and it's great to see whether you can do that for four days.

"I think it's something that does suit me. It does rely heavily on a good mental strategy."

Since Jacklin's victory at Hazeltine there have been enough near-misses to suggest it is not a mission impossible for this week's hopefuls.

Peter Oosterhuis was only two shots away from a play-off in 1975 at Medinah, Seve Ballesteros was fourth in 1983 at Oakmont, fifth at Oakland Hills two years later and third at Olympic in 1987 with Bernhard Langer a stroke further back, then Nick Faldo lost a play-off to Curtis Strange 12 months later at Brookline and Ian Woosnam was joint runner-up behind Strange again in 1989 at Oak Hill.

Faldo was literally an inch away from another play-off at Medinah in 1990 and then came Colin Montgomerie's three best attempts - third at Pebble Beach in 1992, loser of a play-off at Oakmont two years later and second to Ernie Els again at Congressional in 1997.

Miguel Angel Jimenez was joint second in 2000, but a massive 15 strokes adrift of Tiger Woods, and Sergio Garcia was fourth last year.