Rory McIlroy has revealed that he plans to be aggressive at the Olympic Club as he prepares for his US Open defence.

The 23-year-old won last year's event by eight shots and believes that he must attack the golf course this week if he is to retain his title.

McIlroy said: "I'm coming in with the mindset that I'm going to attack the golf course and play aggressively when I can. Obviously you have to be smart, but you've got to take your chances around here."

The Northern Irishman claims that the course layout at the Olympic Club will allow players to recover if they miss the fairway.

"This golf course gives you a few opportunities where you can make birdies," McIlroy added.

"The rough is not as bad as maybe in previous years where you can get away with some tee shots, so really you just need to know your way around the golf course and know where you can miss it."

If McIlroy wins in San Francisco this week, he will be the first player to claim successive US Open titles since 1989.