Australian golfer Geoff Ogilvy was preparing for the U.S. Open in peace and quiet more than 600 kilometers from Pebble Beach, Australia's media reported on Wednesday. According to Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), while most of the world's best golfers have been at the venue getting ready for Thursday's first round, the 2006 champion decided to stay away from the hustle and bustle as long as possible. Ogilvy has spent the weekend at Pebble Beach and played a couple of practice rounds before heading back down the Californian coast for two days at home in San Diego, where he recently bought a home. 'Geoff prefers to fly under the radar,' said Ogilvy's coach, Dale Lynch, who was still at Pebble Beach, working with other Australians Aaron Baddeley and Steve Allan. 'He did the same thing two years ago (when the Open was held at Torrey Pines in San Diego) and just preferred that preparation. Last year (in New York) he felt way too tired by time the first round arrived.' Ogilvy told SMH that the four U.S. Open winners at Pebble Beach have a total of 41 major titles. And the scenic course hugging the Pacific coast is a worthy championship venue. 'Great venues have great winners,' Ogilvy said. 'It's great champions that validate a golf course, don't you think? And they've all been great tournaments.' Three new teeing grounds have been created, on holes nine, 10 and 13, with the added length at the par-four ninth and par-four 10th likely to put the driver back in players' hands. Among the most significant changes were to shift some fairways closer to the cliffs. With little rough on the seaward side at six, eight, nine and 10, the rocks and waves threaten. The U.S. Open starts at Pebble Beach, California on Thursday. 