Retief Goosen upbeat ahead of US Open

Retief Goosen believes he can add to his two US Open titles at Merion Golf Club this week

Retief Goosen wins the US Open for the second time in 2004

Retief Goosen believes he can add to his two US Open titles at Merion Golf Club this week.

The South African prevailed in 2001 and 2004, and although he's never played Merion, he thinks it will suit his style of play.

"I've heard some guys say you could have a lot of short irons in for the first 13 if you take a chance off the tee with a driver, but the last five are extremely hard.

"I hear it's just around 7,000 yards, which should be like two courses I won at - Southern Hills and Shinnecock. Unfortunately I don't hit the ball as far as I used to, so that should suit me.

"I've heard a lot of good things about the course, and also that there should be some low scoring if it gets soft."

Goosen has struggled with injuries of late, but he said some of his recent performances have offered cause for optimism.

"My game has really felt like it's starting to come along. I've had a little injury recently that's put me back slightly, but it's coming round.

"You still want to believe that you can win a major. I feel that I can. Before my latest niggle my putting felt like it was really coming along and I was making a lot of good putts and scrambling well.

"If I carry that on at the US Open, who knows?"

Goosen has made six out of nine cuts on the PGA Tour this season, notching two top 25s and one top 10.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x