By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent, Rochester

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Justin Rose had such a fabulous 2002 that it was always going to be a tough act to follow.

Heading into the final major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester, New York, today, Rose was honest enough to admit: "Right now I'm probably under-achieving."

But at the same time the 23-year-old knows there is still time to make it the year he wanted it to be.

Twelve months ago Rose had never even played a professional tournament in the United States, but it already holds no fears for him.

He is looking to build on the fifth place finishes he enjoyed both at the US Open in Chicago in June and in the NEC World Championship in Seattle last August.

"I turned up for my very first round of golf in America as a pro not really knowing what to expect," he said.

"A lot of European guys have come over to America and not done particularly well.

"So you never know quite what to expect. But I got into it from the word go - I shot 69 and was lying third at the PGA and from then on felt very comfortable about playing here.

"I think I banished the aura of playing in America, if you like. I have knocked up some decent results and I think that alone makes me a better player."

Rose has still to win this season, but he began it with three top-10 finishes and has had a third and two fifths since.

His last three starts, though, were all missed cuts, including the Open at Sandwich, and he flew to Florida last week to spend time with coach David Leadbetter before travelling on to the scene of Europe's 1995 Ryder Cup victory.

Rose began the year 37th in the world and he is currently 39th.

"I said I wanted to be top 20 come the end of the year. My ranking has maintained itself, which is never a bad thing, but I need a strong end to the year," he added.

"I have had a bit of a re-evaluation at the mid-point of the season and I certainly want to be lifting one piece of silverware by the end of the year."