THE familiar, razor seemed to lack their normal spontaneity.

This was a strangely subdued David Feherty, confronted by a painful, family upheaval a long way from his Ulster roots and trying desperately to put some coherent form on his golfing future.

It was Sunday morning in Dallas, Texas, a month after the shock announcement that he had decided to quit tournament golf. I wondered if he had meant what he said during the Johnnie Walker World Championship in Jamaica, where he was working for the commentary team of USA Network.

"Yes and no," was the guarded reply. Then the mood became less defensive. "I really couldn't see any way I could continue playing, what with a divorce hanging over me and the injuries to both my elbows," he explained. "I had used so much of myself, physically and emotionally, that I felt I must rest and try and recharge the batteries."

So he put his professional career on hold, pending a resolution of divorce proceedings with his South African born wife, Caroline. While he lives in an apartment, she is close by in a house they once shared. In the circumstances, he is taking particular delight in the fact that their two sons, Shey (seven) and Rory (three) are with him, at least for the time being.

"What ever about the future, America is now my home, for the simple reason that my children are here," he said with conviction. I'm tucking my tail in and spending as much time with them as possible. And I'm kind of enjoying being a single parent."

The four of them, Feherty, his wife and the boys, moved to Dallas as a family in the autumn of 1993, when he secured a player's card on the USPGA Tour. It seemed the only workable solution to a crazy situation which saw him commuting between Bangor, Britain and Johannesburg, where his wife and children lived. I remember talking to him during the Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm in 1991 when he told me that phone calls to his wife in South Africa had added £700 to his hotel bill for the week.

"Then there was the house in Bangor," he went on. "It was a charming old mill house which was intended to be our home. It cost me a fortune. I had workmen in it for more than two years and between the purchase price and refurbishment, I must have spent close on £700,000. I sold it for £300,000.

"Meanwhile my furniture has been earning frequent floater miles between Ireland, South Africa and here. That sort of activity can make a bit of a dent in your bank account. All of which means that my financial situation is not particularly healthy right now.

He then spoke of golf, a game which he has played sufficiently well to have won five international tournaments and earned selection on the Ryder Cup team at Kiawah Island in 1991 when he earned one and a half points. And there was the manner in which he won the hearts of the nation for his courage in leading Ireland to a Dunhill Cup triumph in 1990.

"Despite how I've played here in America over the last two years, I believe I am swinging better than ever and my ball striking has been excellent," he said. "But it simply wasn't possible for me to concentrate on my game with all that was happening last year. I lost so much weight that I was down to 11st 4lbs but, thankfully, I've since put back about 12lbs. And I have to admit that people have been very understanding, including the media. The truth is that I've had more ink than many players who have accomplished much more than me in the game."

Feherty played seven tournaments in Europe last season, his best performance being a share of 30th place behind John Daly in the British Open at St Andrews. Like Pagliacci, the tragic hero from one of his favourite operas, he attempted to joke his way through what was clearly a very difficult time for him a fact betrayed by his gaunt appearance arising from extreme weight loss.

The feeling then was that it could only be a matter of time before he quit the US and returned to Europe full time to be close to established friends such as Sam Torrance.

These feelings gained credence when, after 26 tournaments in the US last season, he finished 166th in the money list with decidedly modest earnings of $90,274. There wasn't much consolation in the fact that US Ryder Cup skipper Lanny Wadkins finished only two places ahead of him. He, too, lost his card.

"I haven't swung a club since failing at the Tour School in early December," he went on. "As it happens, with tennis elbow in both arms, I need a rest from the game. The right elbow is particularly painful and may require surgery. I plan to have a specialist look at it shortly. The funny thing is that I don't miss the game. In fact, I don't even know where my clubs are probably down at the club (his local course in Dallas). In the circumstances, working with USA Network in Jamaica was a welcome diversion, even if I got athlete's tongue from having my foot in my mouth all the time.

"It was more difficult than I thought, but I learned a lot. And the reactions I've had from people have been tremendous. It has encouraged me to consider moving into that line of work at some time in the future. I certainly won't be a candidate for the Seniors' Tour. I always thought that I would quit tournament golf when I was 40. That gives me three more years, though I hadn't anticipated my present situation when I made those plans."

THE indications are that Feherty will never be short of work in the US if he decides, to move behind the television cameras. The US media warded to him from the time a prominent showing in the British Open at Royal Troon in 1989 made him a regular visitor to the interview area. From training as an opera singer in his youth and a particular effect ion for Puccini's Turandot, he spoke of his delight in Woody Allen monologues and the line "I saw hope running towards the horizon with his arse on fire."

They were bowled over. Here was this quick witted Irishman who seemed to have a clever phrase for every situation. And as Goldsmith wrote of the village schoolmaster "so they gazed and so the wonder grew. .." And Feherty didn't disappointment them.

There was to be bitter irony, however, in a particular comment he made about the US Tour before actually going out to compete there. "The great thing about Europe is you can make friends and have fun with them," he remarked. "In, America, you would come down to breakfast and find 12 different players sitting at 12 different tables. I instinctively thought The hell with this.

He was to discover that the truth of this observation would be compounded by his marriage break up last year. And when it culminated in a failure to regain his player's card, there was a strong temptation to hide himself away and wallow in self pity. But deep down, he knows he can't turn his back on a splendid, God given talent.

I know I'm a good player too good a player to quit at this stage," he said simply. "And it seems that other people share that view. For instance, I've already had four or five sponsors invitations into tournaments in the US this season, without even writing to anybody. That suggests to me that I could play as many as 10 tournaments if I so desired."

With the proper mental attitude, Feherty knows that that would be more than sufficient to regain exempt status on the tour, without recourse to the Qualifying School. His undoubted class was emphasised by a share of fourth place behind Nick Price in the British Open at Turnberry in July 1994. A week later, he was runner up to Kenny Perry in the New England Classic in Boston, earning $108,000 which effectively secured his card for 1995.

Meanwhile, a measure of his impact on the European scene is that despite playing only a handful of tournaments in each of the last two, seasons, he is currently 24th in the career money list, with earnings of £1,585,774 only one place behind current Ryder Cup representative David Gilford.

Nobody understands the player better than his father, Bill, who has been his greatest fan through the years. Bill and Vi Feherty understand, their son's current plight, having visited him and the grandchildren in Dallas before Christmas. "You could say that David is taking a sabbatical from the game," said Bill, not attempting to hide his sadness at recent developments. "He has suspended his playing career until his marital affairs are sorted out. In his present state of mind, it would be impossible for him to play serious golf."

On June 23rd, 1991 at Killarney, Feherty completed his Irish Open challenge with a record, seven under par 65 for the Killeen Course. It gave him a share of ninth place behind Nick Faldo. More significantly, the prize money of £7,123 was sufficient to edge the Ulsterman into the so called Millionaires Club of European players, with career earnings topping seven figures.

When informed of his, newly acquired distinction, Feherty inquired with a grin "Where did all the money go?" He might well ask the same question this time around, though, one suspects, without any cause for a smile.

Meanwhile, he is hoping that a divorce settlement will be sorted out within the next couple of months. After that, he will look to his golfing career. Will that mean a return to regular competition on the European Tour where he retains his exempt status through the career money list (Category Seven)? "No," he replied. "I will probably make more tournament appearances than I did last season, but there can't be a full time return to Europe. My golfing future has to be in the US."

We should have known as much, given the emphasis he had placed on being close to his two boys. Responding to their noise in the background, the reluctant exile concluded "Wherever they are is home for me."