Alistair Presnell has bigger goals than just making the cut at his first golf major championship this week.
A regular on the secondary Nationwide Tour, 33-year-old Australian Presnell has been in decent form to be 25th on that money list and he squeaked into the US Open by winning a play-off at qualifying.
Now he’s at Olympic Club, he’s confident he won’t be over-awed. He knows his game is in order and contending is not beyond him.
“I played a practice round with Martin Laird and FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas and it was nice to see how they’re hitting it and to know with what I’ve got, I’m not that far off,” said Presnell.
“I absolutely think I can do this.
” You’ve got to believe that. If you set a goal of just making the cut you’ll probably just miss it and always come up just short.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well and I’m really comfortable with the way I’m playing so I’m going in confident.
“I’m keen and I just have to believe in myself.”
Even so Presnell was surprised to finish his qualifier tied with four others, leaving a four-way play-off for just two spots.
On the first extra hole one man claimed a spot and another dropped out leaving Presnell to fight it out with local favourite Jordan Spieth for the remaining place.
On the third play-off hole Spieth three-putted from 20 feet giving the Australian his ticket to a major.
“I knew I was playing well enough going into qualifying but didn’t play especially well in the 36 holes so it was a great surprise to sign the card and find out I was in a play off,” Presnell said.
“I was certainly very nervous over a few three and four foot putts on the 37th and 38th holes before he three-putted the 39th and I was in.
“It’s a massive thrill just to be at my first major and to play a course like this with this set up is an absolute treat.”