Golf: US Open beckons Kiwi qualifier

Phil Tataurangi had an inkling he'd done enough to make the field at next week's US Open as he came off the course at the end of his 36-hole qualifying event in New Jersey yesterday.

He had rounds of 71 and 66 for a 5-under total, enough to tie for 13th with the top 18 nailing spots for Winged Foot at Mamaroneck, 45 minutes outside New York City, next week.

But when he walked off the final green he wasn't certain if he had made it. There were no leaderboards dotted about the tree-lined Canoe Brook course at Summit, New Jersey.

"I finished on the course on the opposite side of the road from the clubhouse," Tataurangi said last night.

"I saw a US PGA official and he handed me a booklet for Winged Foot. I took that as a hint that 5-under was in."

But it was a bit nervy with five players at 4-under right behind him.

"You never know what score it's going to take or how everyone's going to play. These things can be about how everyone else plays, not how you play, but luckily I got inside the mark."

Tataurangi, 34, was chuffed to get through 36 holes in one day, the first time he'd done that competitively in years. He's spent much of the past two years battling a lower back injury. Now he's back on the US PGA Tour fulltime and yesterday's qualification was another positive step.

The key was the front nine holes in his second round yesterday, when he hit five birdies, setting him up for a strong finish. Tataurangi ended on 137, six shots behind top qualifier American Brett Quigley.

"I'm very happy with myself, more than just with how I played. To play 36 holes and get the job done and play some of my best golf this afternoon is really pleasing.

"I hit the ball quite nicely and my body is certainly not barking at me. It's in good shape and, mentally as much as physically, I managed to perform well when I needed to."

Qualifying for Winged Foot means a chance to meet up with his old buddy Michael Campbell. The defending US Open champion and Tataurangi were teammates when New Zealand won the Eisenhower Trophy world men's amateur title 14 years ago.

"I'm looking forward to that. He's going to have a pretty busy schedule, but if our paths cross it'd certainly be good."

Most of the focus yesterday was on the one woman in the qualifying field, 16-year-old Michelle Wie. She was attempting to become the first woman to qualify for the US Open, and was right in the frame after an opening 2-under 68. But three successive bogeys in the second round dropped her down the field.

Tataurangi, who has met the big-hitting teenager, reckons she should be known as Tiger Wie for all the attention she draws.

"It's just absolutely phenomenal what this young woman has done to attract this attention. Today was not like a normal qualifier," he quipped.

Tataurangi plays the Barclays Classic at Westchester, New York, starting on Friday morning, but he wants to treat it in its own right, rather than as a shakedown for the Open.

"Obviously, if I play well the momentum moves towards next week. But I can't get all dizzy about playing the US Open and lose my focus. I've played well at Westchester before so I'm looking forward to it."