Bethpage to challenge Smail

New Zealand golfer David Smail is concerned that he does not hit the ball far enough to have a realistic chance of winning the US Open championship starting at Bethpage on Thursday.

"It's a course where length is going to be an issue," he said of the 6790m par-70 layout that is already soft, even before rain that is expected during the first round.

"On real long courses, I just start thrashing at it and then I lose what I'm good at, which is hitting it straight.

"I hope I can just stay focused and accept that I'm going to have a three- or four-iron, and sometimes even a three-wood, into the par-fours."

Smail, an outstanding iron player, is probably the best hope among the three-man Kiwi contingent, which also includes out-of-form 2005 champion Michael Campbell and first-timer Doug Batty.

The lanky 39-year-old has been in good form, only two weeks ago finishing equal second at the Japan Tour Championship.

However, he pulled out of last week's Japanese event after 18 holes as a precaution, after tweaking his back.