Ross Fisher was going into today's opening round of the US PGA Championship confident he could tame the longest course in major history.

The world No23 from Cheam became a father for the first time last month and all he needs now to complete a memorable year is to claim a maiden major this week.

No Englishman has won the US PGA title since Jim Barnes in 1919 but Fisher believes he has the length off the tee to compete on a Hazeltine National course which, at 7,674 yards, is a golfing monster.

The 28-year-old said: "I come into every major championship now feeling and believing I can win and feeling like my game is good enough to win.

"This week is no different. I feel comfortable on the course. It's very, very long so that should suit me quite well.

"If I can get the putter working I feel like I've got a good chance of competing. It's brutally long, but I'm driving well."

After giving a hint of things to come by winning last season's European Open and reaching the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, Fisher finished fifth at the US Open in June and led the Open before a fifth-hole horror left him in 13th place after a final round 75.

He said: "The US Open was a great experience. I walked away from there disappointed finishing fifth.

"It just shows I had a real good chance of winning that. And but for one loose tee shot, I could have had a real serious chance of winning the Open."

Fisher, though, does not feel under any pressure to win a major as quickly as possible.

"As long as I keep putting myself into contention, that's good enough for me," he said.

"You look at some of the other guys, Monty [Colin Montgomerie] has not won a major; Sergio Garcia has been close and he has not won a major yet.

"It took Phil Mickelson a little while to win a major. A guy like Stewart Cink won the Open.

"I'm only 28, so I've got plenty of time on my side. It would be nice to say I won a major before I'm 30, but to be honest, I'm not really thinking about kicking myself if I don't win one before I turn 30."

Garcia almost broke his major duck on his first appearance at the US PGA 10 years ago.

The then 19-year-old Spaniard pushed Tiger Woods all the way only to finish second to the world No1 by just a shot.

Garcia said: "I feel like probably my overall game is better now than it was in 99.

"I'm happy the way I've developed as a player. I'm looking forward to keep getting better and keep giving myself good chances."

Meanwhile, after playing just nine holes of practice yesterday world No3 Paul Casey has decided to defy a painful rib injury and will take part.