US OPEN runner-up Ricky Barnes may be tired after his exertions at Bethpage Black but he is determined to get back on the course and compete at this week’s Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
The 28-year-old was a record-low 36-hole leader in New York at the second major of the year, led by six shots early in the third round and was a one-shot 54-hole leader before a dramatic mid-round collapse during the final 18 holes handed Lucas Glover the title.
Barnes rallied to seal a tie for second place with David Duval and Phil Mickelson, two shots behind Glover, and he is determined to concentrate on the positives from his US Open experience rather than dwell on the negatives in his final round.
“I woke up this morning, and I felt the same as I did last night where I’ll take the good things that happened last week, and still be really satisfied with a second-place finish,” said Barnes.
“I know at times I had the lead and I did have the 36- and 54-hole lead but, at the same time, second in the US Open, not expecting that much going into it . . .
“If you had told me that at the beginning of the week, I would have been super stoked. Obviously, especially coming into the next few events that I knew I was in, it’s a good stepping stone.”
Barnes’ next objective is to turn a good week at Bethpage into a solid first full year on the PGA Tour six years on from turning professional following his 2002 US Amateur Championship success.
“I just want to get out and play. If you’re playing well, why not keep playing?” he said.
“And I think (it was) a great US Open. Great to be back. Obviously playing on a high stage in majors, but this is a full year. It’s not just one week out here.
“So I need to keep competing and would love to get into the final group here again this week.”
Despite starting just three days after the US Open, the Travelers has attracted a strong field with three of the world’s top-10 players in Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry.
The line-up also includes defending champion Stewart Cink and the new US Open champion Glover, who on Tuesday night got his first taste of the big time that goes with being a major winner when he made an appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman.
Asked on Monday night in the wake of his maiden major victory if he would still be playing the Travelers, Glover replied: “Yeah, I’ll be there. Absolutely.”
THE LOWDOWN
Course:TPC at River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut.
History:Once the Buick, and for many years the Greater Hartford Open.
Length:6,877 yards. Par: 70.
Prizemoney:€4.3 million (€770,000 for the winner).
Course:Short, with small, difficult greens which demand accurate approach shots and solid putting.
Field:156, average strength.
Defending champion:Stuart Cink held off Tommy Armour and defending champion Hunter Mahan for first win in four years.
On TV:Provisionally: Setanta Ireland, 8-11pm.
Weather forecast:High 20s0C, rain likely today and Sunday.
