As venues for U.S. Open debuts go, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is as brutal an introduction as they come for Jayden Schaper.
Schaper is one of nine DP World Tour members experiencing America's national championship for the first time this week, having only made his Major Championship debut last month at the US PGA Championship.
Unfazed by the dissapointment of a missed cut at Aronimink, the South African is back testing his game among the best once again at Shinnecock in what is set to be a test of fortitude.
Known for its fast and firm sloped greens, the Long Island layout was described as "the best championship test" in the United States by Rory McIlory on Tuesday.
Described by some as a links-style test, featuring challenging run-off areas to greens that have been a topic of much pre-tournament discussion. gusty winds have already played a feature for players as they undergo their preparations.
New to this stage, Schaper is aware of the test that lies ahead but relishing it all the same.
"It was quite windy, quite brutal out there," he told the DP World Tour of his first experience of Shinnecock in practice on Monday.
"I went out on the back nine and the greens are pretty insane. If the wind picks up and the greens firm out, it is going to be a pretty solid test out there this week.
"I am just going to go ahead and one shot at a time and see what happens. I know my game is good enough and we’ll just see how it goes throughout the week."
While his bow in Major golf may not have gone as he'd have hoped, Schaper is trusting in his principles - ones that have led to him becoming a two-time DP World Tour winner this season.
Among the most important is patience, something career Grand Slam winner McIlroy highlighted as vital to his own chances at what is often considered to be the toughest examination of the four men's Majors.
For Schaper, who is a spot behind McIlroy on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World in third place, expect to see a conservative approach as he looks to build on what has already been a breakthough campaign.
"The PGA obviously played a lot tougher this year than the past couple of PGA Championships," he added of his learnings from his first Major.
"It’s pretty much the same stuff, just to stay patient. It’s a Major Championship so it’s nothing different to other tournaments.
"[Just keep doing] all the same stuff that got me to where I was. I am sticking to the same processes and doing the same thing.
"There’s obviously expectations from other guys, and people out there, but there’s always been the same expectations put on by myself so I still have the same goals, the same things that I am working on doing."
