What might have been (Part one)

WINGED FOOT was memorable for many things last June. Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie's last-hole blunders contributed to one of the most dramatic Major climaxes in recent times while the AW Tillinghast course once again showed itself to be a fair but brutal test of the players' skills.

Then there was just the second Australian winner ever in Geoff Ogilvy. And there was also Kenneth Ferrie.

The former British Boys champion had won twice on the European Tour, first in Spain in 2003 and then at The K Club two years later, and had qualified for his first US Open after finishing in 11th spot on the Order of Merit. Impressive enough, but going into the week the hopes for a European winner and the first since Tony Jacklin in 1970 rested with the likes of Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia or any other of their Ryder Cup team-mates. Ferrie was there for the experience, not to contend.

"I had no expectations going into the week. Watching them over the years at places like Pinehurst, Bethpage and Shinnecock there were plenty of horror stories so I didn't have any goals. I just wanted to go there and enjoy myself. I was looking forward to discovering for myself the mystique of the championship. I was playing quite nicely but one bad shot a round would
cost me. My game is based on hitting fairways and greens, I don't putt as well as a lot of guys, I don't hit it as far.

"But people said that the US Open should suit my set-up though I didn't have any idea of what was round the corner."

What was round the corner was an opening effort of one-over to slip into a share of seventh before four birdies in 11 holes on Friday rocketed Ferrie to four-under and the top of the leaderboard.

"I'm not one of those players who doesn't look at the leaderboards. Even if I hadn't been looking there were suddenly about 50,000 photographers so it was pretty obvious. You know anything under par in a US Open will be up there and the sudden influx of photographers and reporters was a bit of a giveaway."

Successive double bogeys then followed. However, with pars over the closing three holes, Ferrie ended the day still on one over and just two behind Steve Stricker. Saturday would see him go out in the penultimate twoball with Ogilvy.

Ferrie, a two-time All American while at college, again started strongly. Level after four he then eagled the fifth and hung around at the top of the pile for all of Saturday. Indeed he would have claimed the outright lead had he parred the last
but still it was good enough for a Sunday showdown with the reigning US PGA and Masters champion Mickelson. The leaders were tied at two-over.

"I finished with Geoff and we both said well played and have a good day tomorrow. He then glanced at the board, and seeing who I was out with, added 'good luck'."

Before any of that though was a second visit to the media tent to shed a little more light on who Kenneth Ferrie is to the local journalists.

"It goes hand in hand with playing well and getting up to that level so it is fun to be involved in. It was a first for me over there, I have done bits and pieces in Europe but not in the States. I was dragged in on the Friday night, then was last in on Saturday. I was one of last to leave the course on Saturday night."

And so to Sunday and the biggest round of Ferrie's life thus far, over one of the world's toughest tracks with the most in-form player on the planet. Mickelson is also always the darling of the New York galleries.

"I was a little bit wary knowing how popular Phil is, especially in New York. The fans had been really good with us all week but obviously when you're playing with the crowd favourite in the last round it's a bit different.

"But I have to say the support I had was out of this world. It almost seemed to be 60-40, there were no bad comments all week and everyone was cheering me on. I had been told that it got a bit raucous late in the day at Baltusrol but there was none of that. The New York crowd loves the underdog and that kind of shone through."

To read part two click here