Masters champion Bubba Watson has admitted that he may have to tone down his game at this week's Open Championship.

The American is notoriously long off the tee but could be a victim of the Royal Lytham & St Annes course if he doesn't adjust tactically.

Speaking at a press conference, Watson said that reducing his big-hitting was "something I've never done".

He added: "I'm just going to hit iron off the tee here so I can eliminate big numbers. After watching some of the great players at the U.S. Open, that's what I have to do.

"I have to just figure out a way to lay back and just have a longer shot into some of these holes. That doesn't mean I'm going to be able to do that but that's my goal.

"I might still hit it in the high rough with an iron."

Watson's record at the only major outside of the US is not one to be overly proud of, having missed the cut twice and finished tied-30th the other time.

However, the 33-year-old says he still enjoys the links conditions of the UK.

He added: "Hitting shots with 30-mph winds coming across, trying to hit big cuts, big draws, bumping and running it from 200 yards, hitting a low bullet where it just runs about 70 yards is real fun.

"I think that's why it gets so difficult for me because there's so many shots you can play. But I love coming over here."

Watson has been drawn with world number three Lee Westwood and Yoshinori Fujimoto in the opening two rounds in Lancashire.