Flying Forsyth geared up for another major test at US Open

OF THE 8,390 golfers from around the world who filed entry forms for next week's US Open in search of places at Torrey Pines in California, two will be Scots after Alastair Forsyth joined Colin Montgomerie in the 156-man field for the season's second major thanks to an impressive win at the European qualifying event over Walton Heath.

While Monty, with 15 previous appearances, is among the most seasoned of US Open specialists – he was third on his debut at Pebble Beach in 1992, can boast a stroke average in the event of 72.32 and has finished second three times in 1994, 1997 and 2006 – Forsyth will savour his first tee time on Thursday week in America's national championship.

It's a measure of the intense competition at the highest level in the modern game that the tournament in San Diego will mark only Forsyth's second appearance in an American major and his sixth overall during a ten-year career as a professional when he's won twice on the European Tour.

Yet to do himself justice in the majors, Forsyth, 32, believes the experience he'll gain at the US Open will stand him in good stead as he strives to improve his stature in the game – he's Scotland's highest-ranked player – over the coming seasons.

"I'm well aware that I've yet to make a mark in the majors and obviously I would like to set that right by putting in a good showing at Torrey Pines," he said. "The US Open is a massive tournament with huge prize money and lots of world ranking points. And the first thing you learn to understand about the incentives on offer at the majors is that you've got to be in them to win them."

As well as teeing up in four Opens – his highest finish so far is 47th – the Paisley golfer previously experienced the level of difficulty established in the American majors when he missed the cut at the 2003 PGA Championship won by Shaun Micheel at Oak Hill.

Understandably, Forsyth was under no illusions yesterday about how tough the challenge will be at Torrey Pines on a fast running course measuring 7,643 yards with penal rough and slick greens. As Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 champion, succinctly remarked about the US Open: "Expect high scores."

The Scot reflected: "This will be my first US Open but I know from watching the championship on TV over the years just how hard the test will be. I appreciate I'm going to need to play my best golf, drive the ball well and accept my punishment when I go in the rough. Accuracy off the tee is an asset at any US Open and I'm sure it will be the same story at Torrey Pines."

Although he's reluctant to pre-judge the United States Golf Association's policy on course set-up in an event where he's yet to play, Forsyth recalled how the championship at Shinnecock Hills on Long Island in 2004 appeared to slip away from the organisers, prompting Tiger Woods to complain "it's terrible in our national championship that they lost control of the course."

All the Scot would ask next week is that the level of difficulty doesn't cross the line. "I don't mind playing tough courses," he added. "We've had a variety on the European Tour recently. Adare Manor, where they held the Irish Open, was pretty difficult while the course at Castello di Tolcinasco for the Italian Open the week before was more straightforward. I like that variety. All you can look for as a player is that the test is fair. Perhaps, more than most, the US Open has a reputation for being on the borderline."

As to his own form, Forsyth put a run of modest performances between the Spanish Open and the Wales Open to one side when he returned scores of 69 and 68 at Walton Heath to win the qualifier and claim one of the seven spots available in California.

On courses which were a little shorter than the typical European Tour set-up, the Scot was able to rely on course management skills and shrewd play off the tee to come out on top. "The idea was to keep it in play and give myself plenty of birdie chances," he recalled. "The key was to pick and choose when to attack."

Apart from Monty, who has made the cut at 13 of his 15 US Open appearances, America's national championship has not been a particularly happy hunting ground for Scots in recent years. Sandy Lyle was 16th in 1991; Sam Torrance was 16th in 1996; Paul Lawrie's best finish was 30th in 2002; and Stephen Gallacher missed the cut in 2005 as did Martin Laird last summer.

"I accept it's going to be hard but am really looking forward to the challenge," added Forsyth. "I'm a better player now than I was when I played in the US PGA five years ago and the experience I'll gain from being involved at this level will help me to get closer to where I want to be in the game."