RUSSELL HENLEY, the University of Georgia amateur who played in his first U.S. Open Championship last June at Pebble Beach and became just the third amateur in the past 30 years to finish in the top 20 in the event.

On the experience at Pebble Beach and competing at Congressional:

"It was probably the best week of my life. It's very special to me coming out here. I feel like I'm just a fan out here inside the ropes because we just saw Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk and Angel Cabrera. Me and my brother were just like 'Oh, my gosh. Look. There they are and we're walking right next to them.' It's just surreal. It's just something I definitely won't take for granted at all. This is what I love to do, play in these things as an amateur."

How do you avoid being too star-struck?

"I don't think that's the case. I think it's more of not really being star struck as much as it is enjoying it. My brother's pretty star-struck. But, my brother always reminds me that 'you can play with anybody.' And I've done that. I did that last year and I know I'm capable of playing with these guys and that's king of how I try to keep it in perspective. I just try to enjoy it. Playing with these guys is an honor. Playing in front of these people is an honor and that's how we're going to treat it."

Adam Henley is on his brother's bag, just as he was last year.

"We just always try to have as much fun as we can out there. And to be out with all these guys that we're used to watching on TV. It's like he said. It's just an honor to be out here. He hung with them last year. Finished 16th. He knows he can do it. We all know he can do it. We're just really going to, like always, have as much fun as we can."

What will it take for you to win a U.S. Open?

"Mentally is probably the biggest part. For me, it's not taking things too serious, not beating myself up. I think that's the hardest part, is when you get under conditions like this, it's easy to get frustrated. But that's why you have the fans to cheer you on and keep motivating you.

"For me, I think winning is just going to be minimizing mistakes and having as much fun as I can.

"I play every tournament to win. I won on the Nationwide Tour this year. That was a big step for me. That's obviously a little bit different level than a major championship. But I think winning is winning and produces winning. That's what Tiger always says. I play every gold tournament to do my best to win the golf tournament. Winning is definitely something I think about You've just got to play so much good golf. It's a long way away.