Golf: US the next major hurdle for Smail

The United States has come calling for David Smail.

And he's finding it hard to turn a deaf ear to overtures to dip his toe in golf's biggest pond.

Fresh from a stellar season on the Japanese Tour, where he won twice this year, Smail plans broadening his horizons next year.

He intends playing five or six events in the United States as well as two in Europe, after earnings of 94,103,576 ($1.5 million) saw him finish fifth on the Japanese moneylist to earn a five-year tour exemption.

Now, he needs only to contest a minimum 16 tournaments in Japan next year, so he is eager to spread his wings to see how his game flies in the United States.

Smail's profile has risen considerably since he won the Japan Open and Casio World Open in the space of five weeks.

Not only has his world ranking improved to 84th, but those victories have done wonders for his marketability.

He has confirmed starts in the US in the Memorial Tournament, the International and the Kemper Open. His manager is working to gain him access to a couple more.

As well, his Japan Open success earned him a start in the British Open at Royal St George in July and he would like to prepare for that by playing the Scottish Open also.

"If I can get five or six starts in America, I'll find out whether I like it over there or not," he said yesterday.

"I'd like to play as many as I can there next year. Japan really suits me to a tee, but I'd like to see how things go in the States and then maybe I'll have a go at the [US PGA Tour] qualifying school at the end of the year.

"The money is pretty good in Japan, but not as good as it is in America."

For Smail, the US remains a challenge yet to be taken on.

His goal for this year, his sixth season in Japan, was to win there for the first time. He did that and more, with eight top-10 finishes from 23 tournaments, capped by his two victories.

Smail, 32, can scarcely believe the year he's enjoyed.

He recalls his rookie season in Japan in 1997 and envying those players who won tournaments and finished high on the moneylist. "I remember think how lucky they were, and it's quite amazing to now find myself in the same situation."

Over and above the sheer joy of winning, Smail takes particular pride at breaking into the top 100 on the world rankings.

"I am pretty excited about that. I've never considered myself a top-100 golfer. Hopefully, it will last a bit.

"I haven't worried about where my ranking was before, but it's certainly nice to be in that top 100. And it would be even nicer to keep my ranking in double figures."

- NZPA