Erin Hills, Wisconsin …
Wade Ormsby is clearly not about to get excited in finally ending a 16-year wait to tee-up in a maiden Major at this week’s U.S. Open at Erin Hills.
Ormsby got his first official look today at the Wisconsin course and tackling the huge rural golfing estate strangely boasting just five threes and laid out on the site of an ancient glacier.
Joining Ormsby this week is his father, Peter and also coach and former Tour player, Darren Cole.
Wade Ormsby on the range at Erin Hills ahead of his maiden Major. Image … www.golfbytourmiss.com
And on the first day of official practice, Ormsby joined a fellow Adelaide born golfer and long time friend Adam Scott, who at age 36 is just three months Ormsby’s junior.
Ormsby and Scott go back a very long way. Their fathers competed alongside each other in the 196os and then when Orsmby first went to Europe in 2oo4 he rented Scott’s former London residence.
There was also the scenario of Ormsby, who was leading the time, being grouped with Scott for the final round of the 2o14 Australian PGA Championship.
So, their friendship has endeared for a very long time despite Scott climbing to the very summit of the game and Ormsby struggling at times to find his footing.
Ormsby and Scott shook hands on the 18th at Erin Hills wishing each other well this week and then after some lunch, Ormsby and Coles spent a considerable time on the range that is also so expansive you could easily squeeze in four or five extra holes.
Of course, Ormsby is no stranger to competing in the States having competed in 2oo8 on the PGA Tour’s secondary Nationwide Tour.
And now after recently again travelling to Walton Head in Surrey to put himself through the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier, and also again admire the photo in the clubhouse of Kiwi and very good friend Michael Campbell who did the same in 2oo5 by qualifying and then denying Tiger Woods at Pinehurst, Ormsby has finally realised what was becoming a fainter and fainter dream.
“There was something thereabouts in the back of my mind that I would never get to contest a Major, so all you can do is keep putting yourself through the process of trying to qualify”, he said.
“I always felt I was good enough to qualify but then you still have to go out there and do it.
“But it is what it is, and you have to keep on taking each week whether it is a regular tournament or a U.S. Open qualifier and try you best.
“Also, it is always one of those things you want to do in your career and that is to compete in the Majors and the thing there is only a four a year, so the opportunities are very limited.
“For me, there is really only the U.S. Open and the British Open where I have a chance to qualify so I finally have got through to one and here I am at Erin Hills competing in a U.S. Open so it feels really nice to be here.
“They say the U.S. Open is the toughest of the four Majors so all I can do is see how the week pans out and just try and plod my way around, and really just enjoy the experience and the week.
“So, standing here now on the range at a U.S. Open I do feel proud that I never gave up and it is testimony that if you keep trying you can reach that goal”.
And Ormsby was quick to single out Campbell for praise and support as he was one of the first to congratulate Ormsby after he had qualified.
“There is the photo of Cambo kissing the U.S. Open trophy up on the wall in the clubhouse at Walton Heath and it has been an inspiration now for a dozen years for those like myself who dream of contesting a U.S. Open”, he said.
Michael Cambell and the image on the wall of the clubhouse at Walton Heath in Surrey.
“So, it was great of Cambo to get in contact with me and congratulate me after I had got through the play-off and get to where I am now this week”.
Ormsby says in chatting with Scott earlier in the day Erin Hills reminded the two long-time Adelaide-born buddies of Moonah Links in Victoria.
“We both thought this course does have a Moonah Links feel to it set out on a similar type of landscape with big run offs around the greens”, he said.
“You just have to try and take some of those run off areas out of play, so that is going to be one of the strong keys to playing well this week”.
What has already been strange for Ormsby is that he has been bumping into other players he recalls competing alongside when contesting the Nationwide Tour that now, of course, is the Web.com Tour.
“The thing is I have been playing alongside so many of these guys here this week around the world for a good many years now like on the European Tour and back home in Australia for like the last 15 to 16 years”, he said.
“So, it is not like I am over-awed being here this week.
“Also, I was kind of picking Adam’s out there this morning as to how to go about the rest of the week and things like that.
“There are not too many guys out here with as much or any more experience than Adam, so he has been really helpful.
“And in saying that I have not made myself any big predictions this week but then it I can work myself towards the top 3o after day one and then see what comes of it, I might then readjust my expectations.
“As I said, all I can do is go out there and play my best because I know I can play solid golf, and then if I were to get a hot putter you never know where that could lead in weeks like this.
“The thing is this is a U.S Open and if you can put the ball in play and hole a few putts you never where that could lead to.
“And that is where Darren will be so helpful this week having him here and just keeping it all simple, and not getting carried away with the occasion.”
Ormsby finds himself grouped for the opening two rounds alongside American Kyle Thompson and South African Oliver Kepper.
