Ireland's number one golfer Padraig Harrington is hoping his self-confessed underdog status will see him become only the second Irishman to win a Major title.
Despite being ranked 10th in the latest world rankings Harrington dismisses suggestions he is one of the favourites to bring a halt to Tiger Woods' charge towards the Grand Slam.
"I'm not used to being in that position," he said when asked about his world ranking.
"I would always consider myself the one who was the underdog trying to catch up. Whether it's an Ernie Els or a Tiger Woods ahead of me on the final day I would still be the underdog trying to catch them," explained the soft spoken Harrington, attempting to match the late Fred Daly's victory in the 1947 Open.
And Harrington has no doubt that being underdog boosts his chances of beating the world number one.
"I think the guys who have beaten Tiger in the past tend to be guys who have grown up or performed most of their golfing career as underdogs.
"It's obviously tougher for guys who are always the top dog to have the role reversed and to be the underdog coming in against Tiger. They are not familiar with the situation," said Harrington.
"Players who would be used to coming up against the bigger named stars obviously have a better chance to beat Tiger. To them he is just another one of those bigger named stars.
"Players who have been champions all the way through their career, amateur and pro, having always turned up being the favourite. Obviously the roles reversed not that Tiger is here. And that is putting a little bit of pressure on them.
"They are certainly thinking a slightly diffedrent way and maybe trying to push too hard.
"It's just tougher on them. It is something they've never experienced when they were growing up," explained Harrington.
But the Irishman admits that his biggest problem this week, is not Woods or Els or Phil Mickelson but the Muirfield links.
"I haven't figured it out," he said after today's practice round.
"You go to a US Open and you just know it is about patience. Here I haven't quite figured out what is going to make a winner this week.
"Is it going to be someone who plays superb consistent golf or is it sho plays exciting golf, hitting drivers, making birdies and not making too many mistakes. I really don't know," confessed Harrington.