Matt Wallace column: I have US Open advantage after playing Pebble Beach on the PlayStation!

It shows I’m on the right track and now I want to be the winner of a Major come Sunday at the US Open. This is why we grind it out week in, week out. With your team, you’re always trying to look for the answers. But we didn’t change things greatly for Bethpage, which is encouraging.

The big difference was in the build-up. I took the Monday off and then did just nine holes on both the Tuesday and Wednesday.

I remember thinking ‘this course is really hard’, but it’s a Major so that’s fine. In the past, I’ve ground it out preparing for a Major. It’s what I did at the Masters. Instead, it was all about conserving my energy and working a little bit more on my putting game. That added freshness helped me when it came to Sunday when the conditions were so tough.

So, this week I’m replicating that although I did not take the Monday off and had more time acclimatising with some friends in Austin, Texas, before tackling the golf course with nine holes on Monday, yesterday and again today.

As for the USA PGA, what helped was that I got off to a nice start — four-under par after six holes, holing putts and playing some good golf. What that did was help settle me down and make me realise it’s possible to score around there rather than having to play amazingly well for level par or, say, one-over. And from there things just got better.

On the last day, you knew you were going to be hacking it out a lot and dealing with pitching shots. I was up and down maybe six times inside 50 yards so it was a proper grinder’s day out and I’m proud how I dealt with it. It was a good week.

The other difference was being relaxed, in a good place, enjoying the way I was swinging it, hitting it and controlling the ball. And what felt great was that I was competing well again and I’d not really changed anything nor worked any harder.

That feeling of relaxation is there again this week, I’m in good form and I’m looking forward to it. There’s so much more to come from me.

Like Bethpage, I’ve never played Pebble Beach. Okay, I’ve played it hundreds of times on the PlayStation and, as a result, I feel I know it like the back of my hand.

I first walked the course on Sunday and, visually, it’s probably my favourite golf course in the world. The views are incredible and I feel good here. But I think any golf course can suit my game now and I believe I can win anywhere.

I’m staying around the corner in a recreational vehicle at a place called Cypress Point. I’ve got Danny Willett as my neighbour so I’m sure we’ll get together for a barbecue at some point. Rickie Fowler is just over the way, too. It’s just a nice, chilled spot, but it doesn’t change the fact I want to win on Sunday. That’s the plan and that’s why I’m doing this.