Paul McGinley reckons next month's US Open at Torrey Pines will be the toughest ever.

The Dubliner, 41, played the famous South Course course "hundreds of times" as a college golfer.

And after a recent visit he believes the USGA will have to make the golf course easier rather than harder.

He said: "I know the place backwards. That was our home course at college and I think it’s got potential to be the toughest US Open course ever.

"If they are going to get level par they are going to have to soften it up, not make it tougher. It’s tough enough as it is.

"You’ve got a golf course that's 7,500 yards at sea level with see breezes and kikuyu grass. Those combinations alone are going to make it difficult."

McGinley must pre-qualify at Walton Heath on June 2 if he remains outside the world's top 50 after next week's BMW PGA.