Tony Jacklin was the last European to claim the coveted prize in 1970 at Hazeltine National, and Casey is desperate to match that achievement on Sunday.

“What would it mean? It would mean the world. It would mean everything,” Casey said. “It’s been a long time since a European has won any major let alone a US Open. The British press and especially the European press are gagging for it. They can’t wait. So hopefully I can pull it off.”

Casey will need a performance like the one he unleashed on Friday in shooting a 66, the lowest round of the tournament, if he is to have any chance of overhauling Australian Baddeley and more importantly Woods.

Duplicating the feat will be tricky as Oakmont has only been yielding two sub-par rounds each day so far but Casey feels keeping things simple will prove the key to success.

“It has to be fairways, greens and try to make birdies,” he added. “You can’t overcomplicate this. You have to go out there and strike it well off the tee and give yourself an opportunity.

“That’s what I have to do. Stick the ball in the fairway, which I did pretty well today, and hopefully make some putts at the end.”

Casey got off to another fast start on Saturday with two birdies in his first four holes.

He managed only two more during the rest of his round to go with six bogeys but still left himself in a good position entering the final round.

“I started off really well,” Casey said. “I didn’t find as many fairways as I did yesterday, which is why the score was a couple over, but it was great.

“I’m excited going into tomorrow. I did make bogeys but I bounced back with birdies here and there and that is what I am excited about. I managed to make birdies on a very tough golf course.”