By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Rochester

Paul Casey knows it is easier said than done, but he is trying to treat this week's US PGA Championship at Oak Hill like a normal event.

When you have the record in majors that Casey does, it is no wonder he is attempting something different.

The 26-year-old from Surrey is now the sixth highest European in the world rankings at 30th. But on the biggest stages he has simply not got going so far.

And that is putting it mildly. In four attempts he has yet to make a halfway cut and in the Open last month he began with a round of 85 - just as he did on his US PGA debut a year ago.

"I think I've been guilty of putting too much pressure on myself, so this week I've been trying to relax more and prepare as I would for a regular tournament," said Casey.

It was an attitude he employed last week at the International event in Colorado - and it worked. The former United States college star finished 10th and was encouraged by the fact he did not even come close to producing his best golf for that.

"I've still got a lot of learning to do and this is part of that," he added. "There's some serious rough here and it's the first time I've seen them (greenkeepers) out not only drying the rough, but also raking it so that it's even tougher."

While Casey was recording his best US Tour finish on Sunday, Ian Poulter was joining him as a two-time winner on the European circuit this season by capturing the Nordic Open in Denmark.

Poulter now plays only his third event in the United States with the same "treat it like any other week" philosophy.

"Too much hype is put on the four majors and Ben Curtis' win at the Open last month shows that a lot of different guys can win every week.

"I think you could see a lot more first-time winners and I've got very high hopes. I'm playing great."

Not surprisingly, the 27-year-old from Milton Keynes has been getting lots of reaction from the upstate New York fans to his blond and dark brown striped hairstyle.

"They're generally louder over here and it's been crazy," said Poulter, who heard on Wednesday morning that a boys' event at the Royal Liverpool club this week has seen a number of youngsters turn up with similar looks.

"It's caused quite a stir, I gather. I can just imagine them being told 'take that cap off - no, put it on again'."

Poulter pondered the idea of perhaps playing the Scottish Open in a kilt, but it is his golf he wants to be most noticed.

Phillip Price might never be a fashion rival, but he has high ambitions too and after a run of first in the European Open, second in the Scottish Open and then 10th in the Open last month the Welshman has consulted top sports psychologist Bob Retool this week.

"I'm a lot happier about where I am capable of going. It was very frustrating not playing well both before and after the Ryder Cup last year, but tiredness played a part in that and my sights are certainly raised now," he said.