Michael Campbell claims a week spent eating ice creams on Brighton Pier and strolling through The Lanes can help him win a place in US Open folklore.

While the rest of the world's top players have been pounding thousands of balls at the range in preparation for the year's second major, Campbell has been taking a slightly more relaxed approach to the defence of his title.

Instead of worrying about his form - or lack of it - after missing the cut at the Welsh Open last week the 37-year-old Kiwi locked his clubs in the cupboard at his Brighton home and "chilled out".

The world No.19 hopes his week as a beach bum will prove the perfect tonic for the gruelling challenge facing him over the next four days at Winged Foot.

Campbell said: "I don't usually get much time to just enjoy being at home in Brighton. I am usually playing all the time so it was nice to just do nothing for a week.

"I wasn't even tempted to get the clubs out and practice because I wanted to kick back and relax. I went to the pier and did the usual seaside stuff and just generally reconnected with Brighton.

"Obviously I wasn't satisfied with not making the cut in Wales but every cloud has a silver lining. I had played for three weeks in a row in tough conditions and it takes a lot out of you.

"Now I am feeling totally refreshed and ready for all the hype and pressure which surrounds a major golf tournament. It may not be the right preparation for everyone but it works for me."

Campbell's last few weeks have been in stark contrast to his hectic build up 12 months ago when he only decided to enter qualifying for the US Open at the last minute.

That decision proved to be inspired as he went on to lift the trophy at Pinehurst after holding off the challenge of Tiger Woods in a nailbiting final round.

If he can repeat the feat he will become only the third person to defend the title since the war and the first since Curtis Strange managed it in 1989.

He said: "It would be great to go back and win a second title and join the likes of Curtis Strange and Ben Hogan.

"The trophy has been like my right arm for the last 11 months, travelling with me all the time, so when I had to give it back a few weeks ago I gave it a kiss goodbye and I said 'I'll see you later girl.'

"Now I have broken through and won my first major I am very positive and confident. I have done it before so there is no reason why I can't do it again.

"My form has not been great recently but that is probably because I've been trying a few things out to adapt to the conditions of Winged Foot.

"Winning majors is the goal for me now and other tournaments are all for preparation. The important thing is that what I have done over the last couple of months means I feel mentally and physically ready.

"I've changed my set up with the driver. The shaft is a little bit shorter to give me more accuracy because hitting the fairways will be the key this week rather than being long off the tee.

"I've only seen the course on television but I know the fairways are tight and the rough is so long that you will have to just chop it out sideways if you hit it in there."

Campbell will begin his defence alongside the man who pushed him all the way at Pinehurst after being paired with Woods and Italian amateur Edoardo Molinari in the first two rounds.

The presence of the world No.1 will ensure Campbell is in the spotlight right from the start, unlike 12 months ago when he began as a complete outsider but he says he does not feel any extra pressure.

Campbell said: "Although I am champion the American public still don't really know much about me. They don't look beyond the top five in the world rankings so I don't feel any extra pressure and that is the way I like it.

"I'm not even thinking about being the defending champion as that seems a bit negative. Four or five years ago I won a bunch of titles and really struggled when it came to defending them so I'm going to put the fact I am defending the title completely out of my mind.

"I want to be positive, go out and attack the course and win it again."

And if he does, Campbell will be back on Brighton seafront dancing in the surf with the US Open trophy just like he did 12 months ago.