Eddie Pepperell is bracing himself for the toughest week of his life – but cannot wait to get his teeth into the US Open, writes David Pritchard.

Oxfordshire’s rising star has quickly established himself on the European Tour in his debut season and now steps up to the biggest stage of all in a major championship.

The US Open is notoriously difficult and Merion’s East Course is expected to be no different, with tight fairways, thick rough and lightning fast, undulating greens awaiting Tiger Woods, Rory McIl-roy and Co.

The 22-year-old from Ab-ingdon is under no illusions about the challenge, but is relishing the struggle.

“It’s just going to be the hardest week of my life, but it’s going to be really great,” he said.

“In the last couple of years my best results have been on quite tough courses, so I can take that into the US Open with some confidence.

“I love the grind of tournaments and this is the US Open – it’s going to be four days of pure grind.

“Even if the weather is perfect it’s still going to be torture at times I imagine.

“That to me is golf because it’s the hardest sport in my opinion anyway, and in the conditions we’re going to be playing in it’s just psychologically torturous at times.

“Only the toughest that week will win and I’m just really excited about it.”

Few players in the field will arrive in Pennsylvania with more confidence than the golfer, who represents Fril-ford Heath.

His last competitive action came just over a fortnight ago in US Open qualifying at Walton Heath.

It came a day after Pep-perell’s career-best finish, a tie for sixth place in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Following a short break in Portugal to recharge the batteries, he flew to the States on Sunday.

It gave him three full days to prepare for the tournament with coach Mike Walker and Bicester’s Jamie Herbert, who is his putting coach and will again act as caddy.

The tournament will only be the third time Pepperell has played in the US, but he also got some tips from Chris Paisley, who competed in the Walker Cup at Merion four years ago.

Regardless of what happens over the next four days, just teeing up marks a huge step forward for a player who a year ago was missing the cut at the St Omer Open and watching the US Open on television.

He said: “It’s a bit like the PGA, I was watching that last year and it’s odd to think I was watching Luke Donald hole the winning putt and then 12 months later you’re out there with a chance to win.

“It’s pretty surreal when you think about it.”