Torrey fan Donald in high spirits

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Britain's Luke Donald, buoyed by top-six finishes in his last two starts, was in optimistic mood after playing a practice round on Monday for this week's U.S. Open.

The 30-year-old has always enjoyed playing on the spectacular South Course at Torrey Pines and has twice finished second at the PGA Tour's Buick Invitational also held here.

"It's a good golf course for me just because of the good feelings and good memories I've had in the past," Donald told Reuters. "I have good thoughts playing here and it's always nice to come to a major with those kinds of memories."

The Chicago-based Englishman, who lost to John Daly in a playoff for the 2004 Buick Invitational, believes his game is close to its best for the second major of the season.

Donald has worked hard to regain his renowned accuracy and was greatly encouraged by his tie for third at the European Tour's PGA Championship last month and his share of sixth at the Memorial tournament the following week.

"My accuracy hasn't been the best for the last year or so and I've been working hard on my swing," the world number 17 said. "It's getting better every day and I feel like I am gaining a bit more control every time I go out there.

"That's the key for me, to be able to control the golf ball. I feel like I am definitely getting there so I have high hopes for this week."

LONGEST LAYOUT

The 7,643-yard South Course will become the longest layout to stage a major championship but Donald feels this will not be much of a factor.

"The courses we play week-in and week-out are pretty long anyway," the double PGA Tour winner said. "You've got two very long par-fives, a couple of long par-threes and a bunch of long par-fours but it just seems that's the norm for this day and age."

Torrey Pines has two of the longest par-four holes in U.S. Open history. The 515-yard sixth is the longest ever and the 504-yard 13th is the third longest.

"I played this morning and the course isn't playing too different to how it usually plays," Donald added. "I think the greens are able to get a bit firmer and perhaps a bit faster than what we are used to.

"Other than it, it is really up to the USGA (the United States Golf Association) as to how they set up.

"They have done a few things different, a few different tees and a few places where they have shaved the areas around the greens. And I like that. I like that it's a little bit different and it's not totally the same golf course."

Donald is scheduled to tee off at 2014 GMT in Thursday's opening round with fellow Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)