Casey: I can handle the pressure at US Open

Paul Casey, boosted by his tie for sixth place at the US Masters in April, is in confident mood for this week's US Open.

The 26-year-old Englishman missed the cut at Olympia Fields on his US Open debut last year but believes he has since learned how to cope with the pressures of major golf championships.

"My game is at a good level now," he said after his first practice round at Shinnecock Hills. "I haven't reached the heights of Vijay Singh or Ernie Els or players like that yet but my game's progressing nicely.

"I think I handled myself very well at Augusta, coped with the pressure very well.

"The fact that I played pretty good golf there is important but I feel there's certainly more left in the bank. I feel very, very relaxed being here this week."

Casey tees off in Thursday's opening round in the company of Americans Daniel Forsman and Brian Gay.