Billy Mayfair, who notched his fourth and fifth career victories in 1998, hopes this is the week he breaks his silence in 1999 and at the same time claims his first major championship.

He took a first step in that direction Thursday with a three-under-par 67 at Pinehurst No. 2 in the U.S. Open.

A pair of top-10 finishes in the PGA Championship (1990, 1998) are his best marks in the majors, but his U.S. Open history –– seven appearances –– has been nothing special, with only two top-25 showings.

No. 2 may suit Mayfair better than previous U.S. Open venues.

"I said at the beginning of the week that this was a good major championship golf course for Billy Mayfair, because the rough wasn’t that long," he said. "I think I’ve got a real good short game around the greens. I think that plays into my game a little bit."

Mayfair got off to a good start when he drained a 20-foot uphill putt for birdie on the first hole. He gave it back with a three-putt bogey at the second but didn’t take another backward step the rest of the day. He tapped in a short birdie on the par-five fourth hole and rolled in two more 20-footers at the ninth and 10th.

Closing with eight straight pars was just fine for Mayfair.

"I went out today and did exactly what I wanted to do, he said. "Shooting three under gives me confidence."

Mayfair expects he and everyone else will have to adapt their games as the course dries out.

"I was talking to some of the guys who played here a couple weeks ago, and they were telling me how they had to bump-and-run the ball a lot more into the greens. I haven’t seen that yet.

"Since I’ve been here Tuesday it’s been kind of wet and soft. But, obviously, as the course dries out, you’re going to have to change your game a little bit. You’ve got to kind of learn the golf course as you go along."