Intro:

Spaniard Sergio García said Pinehurst is 'a lot more challenging when you get on the tee' on Wednesday. The 34-year-old begins his bid for a first major title alongside Australia's Jason Day and American Brandt Snedeker at the US Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Thursday.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English) Sergio García:
(on the changes to the course since 2005)

"I mean I don't think it's narrower than it was in 2005, but to the eye, mentally, it looks narrower because of where you hit it, if you miss it. Sometimes if you miss a tee shot and you hit it in the rough, even if it's eight inch rough, you're fine with it. Even though you can probably get better lies in some of these areas than you might get in the high rough that used to play here. But, to the eye, it's a lot more challenging when you get on the tee."