Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke have travelled the world playing all manner of golf courses. But they have never seen anything quite like Whistling Straits.

The United States PGA championship has come this week to the banks of Lake Michigan in Kohler, Wisconsin, and one thing is certain - nobody is going to forget it easily.

Westwood, whose fourth place finish in the Open at Royal Troon last month was his best-ever finish in a major, and stablemate Clarke were among the first to arrive - and it is true to say they were stunned by the venue.

"I was told before I got here that there were 10 really difficult holes and eight impossible ones," said Westwood. "I'm just trying to work out which the 10 difficult holes were.

"It's almost a little too difficult really."

At 7,514 yards the lay-out is the longest ever used for majors, with four of the par fours measuring 500 yards or more off the back tees - not all of which will be used on the same day probably because of the likely winds.

Clarke commented: "After four holes I was looking at the scorecard to see where I got my shots. It's brutally difficult - the toughest and fairest I've played.

"I didn't realise there were that many par sixes on one course. It's amazing.

"You usually have one or two holes every week where you take lots of high numbers, but I think there are about 10 this week.

"If you try and remember all of the most difficult holes at home, put them all together and I think you'll have this one."

Despite the severity of the test, however, there is a feeling that the course is so un-American that European hopes could be boosted.

The last European to win this event was Scottish-born Tommy Armour in 1930 - and he became an American citizen.

"It could change this week," stated Westwood. "I don't think we've ever played a course like this before in the PGA.

"I was trying to think what this reminded me of and it didn't really remind me of anywhere. It's quite unique, so it could favour European golfers.

"But I think if you look at the quality of the players around the world everybody seems to be able to play in all conditions, to be perfectly honest.

"That's just the way it is nowadays. You've got to have a good all-round game for all conditions.

"It was very beneficial coming in early, mainly because of the fact that I normally turn up on a Monday and you try to cram it all in.

"By the time Thursday comes around you're quite tired - you don't want to be spending eight or nine hours at the course the day before the tournament starts.

"By coming in early I can take it easy Wednesday and just work on my pitching and chipping and putting and feel fresh." Clarke has missed the cut in five of his six PGA appearances - and was ninth in the other.

"It's going to be a huge premium on driving the ball this week and lots of PGAs and US Opens tend to take the driver out of your hands.

"Thankfully we're playing off some of the forward tees. Otherwise we'd be out there for a long time.

"I would like to say it will help the Europeans. It's certainly got that linksy type of look, but it's going to be somebody whose ball-striking is seriously good.

"They will not be able to scramble this week and get around. It's too difficult.

"I was so tired after I played I had about 10 hours' sleep. You want to get some local knowledge, but a lot of practice rounds are going to wear you down. I think you have to save as much energy for the tournament this week.

"It's a very physically demanding course - I probably wouldn't have been fit enough for it a couple of years ago - but it's probably more a mental test because there are shots where you can't see the ball land and it's tough to commit yourself."