Dylan Frittelli can’t wait to start the 118th US Open at Shinnecock Hills in what will be his debut in the only Major he’s not yet teed it up at, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
After making his Masters debut in April, the US Open is the final of golf’s four elite events to be ticked off.
‘I won’t lie, I am super excited and really can’t wait to get up to New York this weekend. It’s the only one I haven’t played, so it’ll be nice to tick that one off the list,’ Frittelli told Compleat Golfer.
The US Open returns to the 2004 venue which has a special place in South African history after Retief Goosen’s final day short-game masterclass helped him lift his second US Open trophy after edging Phil Mickelson by two shots. Goosen’s final round 71 was enough to secure the win as he played alongside compatriot Ernie Els, who faded dramatically out of the picture after a fourth round 80.
The US Open has traditionally been the hardest of all four Majors when it comes to setting up the course with the USGA coming in for much criticism over the greens at Chambers Bay in 2015 and last year’s thick rough at Erin Hills.
No matter the conditions, Frittelli is confident of putting his best foot forward as he completes the slam of Majors played.
‘It’s going to be a long, hard but good week. I actually enjoy tough set ups, so it’s going to suit me in theory.’
Frittelli will not be in action in Austria this week with the Shot Clock Masters replacing the Lyoness Open, the event that saw him make his European Tour breakthrough last year.
‘It looks like it’s going to be innovative and cool. I’ll be following on TV for sure,’ he said.
‘I’m not sure how it’s all going to play out with the time limits and whether or not the players will be able to appeal decisions. It should be a good attempt to speed up play and hopefully, we’ll see some good golf played out there.’
Frittelli is one of six South Africans in the US Open field as he joins Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel as automatic qualifiers with Els receiving a sponsor’s invite to play.
Dean Burmester is the final Saffa in play next week after he played his way to Shinnecock Hills during Monday’s 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath.
