Goosen held of Phil Mickelson by two shots in 2004

Retief Goosen hopes his renowned putting skills will stand him in good stead as he prepares to defend his US Open title this week at Pinehurst.

The world number five won last year's title in brutal conditions at a sun-baked Shinnecock Hills.

"The greens are in perfect condition and they're going to be hard and fast.

"I see the greens to be quite similar to Shinnecock by the time we get to the weekend, unless we get lots of rain," South African Goosen said.

"They are in great shape and, if you putt well this week, the ball will stay on line."

US Open champion for the first time at Southern Hills in 2001, Goosen won again in 2004 after needing only 11 putts over the final nine holes.

In all, he took 24 putts in a closing one-over-par 71 as he held off Phil Mickelson by two shots.

If nobody can hit a green, I have got a pretty good chance Phil Mickelson

But Goosen knows he will need to draw on other qualities as well to make it back-to-back victories in South Carolina.

"The US Open is all about patience," he added.

"It's difficult to get out there and make six birdies in a row.

"Six pars in a row is pretty good around a course like this. "I think patience is going to have a lot to do with it, very good course management.

"The way these greens are, if you can hit in the middle of the green every hole, you'll be great."

And Goosen seems to thrive on difficult golf courses.

His closing 71 last year was achieved when the field produced an average score of 78.7.

"I like the tougher golf courses where you have to grind out a little bit more, work hard for a par," he said.

"I prefer this type of golf really to a golf course that you know you need to shoot 26 under par to win.

"I think generally everybody sees the US Open as being the toughest one to win and the toughest golf course to play on.

"Last year Shinnecock was tough. This week I think Pinehurst will be tougher than Shinnecock.

It is a view shared by Mickelson, who fears the final-round mess at Shinnecock Hills could be repeated.

Soft putts that rolled completely off Shinnecock's rock-hard seventh green during last year's Sunday round forced officials to spray the par-3 putting surface with water after none had been applied overnight.

"We have potential for 18 holes that could be like number seven at Shinnecock," Mickelson said.

"I'm a little biased. I would love to see that happen because it has always been my contention that if nobody can hit a green, I have got a pretty good chance.

"I'm not opposed to that occurring this week."