Golf: Smail feels dwarfed by Bethpage length

David Smail is New Zealand's leading hope in tomorrow's (NZT) US Open. Photo / Getty Images

NEW YORK - New Zealand golfer David Smail is concerned that he does not hit the ball far enough to have a realistic chance of winning the US Open championship starting at Bethpage on Thursday.

"It's a course where length is going to be an issue," he said of the 6790m par-70 layout that is already soft, even before rain that is expected during the first round.

"On real long courses, I just start thrashing at it and then I lose what I'm good at, which is hitting it straight.

"I hope I can just stay focused and accept that I'm going to have a three- or four-iron, and sometimes even a three-wood, into the par-fours."

Smail, an outstanding iron player, is probably the best hope among the three-man Kiwi contingent, which also includes out-of-form 2005 champion Michael Campbell and first-timer Doug Batty.

The lanky 39-year-old has been in good form, only two weeks ago finishing equal second at the Japan Tour Championship.

However, he pulled out of last week's Japanese event after 18 holes as a precaution, after tweaking his back.

"It didn't feel that good starting off on Thursday and never really got better during the day, so I thought I'd give it a rest," he said, insisting that he now feels "perfect".

It remains to be seen, however, whether jetlag catches up with Smail, who did not arrive here until Monday, accompanied by wife Sheree and caddie Christian `Chopper' Davidson.

He considered changing to an earlier flight, but in the end decided to stick to his original plan.

Smail is trying to treat his second US Open appearance like any other tournament, although that's easier said than done.

"It's hard and I don't think I've done it very well in the past," he said.

"I've over-thought and tried too hard. I hope I don't do that this time."

Smail will play his first two rounds with American Cameron Beckman and Australian Steve Allan.

- NZPA