New experience for rookie Phil Price

Welshman Phil Price came off after his practice round for his first US Open and said: "It's like nothing I have ever seen."

But Price, carrying the Welsh flag after the failure of former world No 1 Ian Woosnam to earn a place in the Pinehurst starting line-up on Thursday, still feels confident enough to set his sights on a top 10 finish.

The 32-year-old from Pontypridd, who qualified by taking 15th place on last season's European Order of Merit, practised with Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Swede Per-Ulrik Johansson.

Pinehurst is unlike other US Open venues because instead of thick rough bordering the greens there are run-off areas.

"I was told about them, but I had no idea it was going to be as severe as this," said Price.

"On most holes you've just got to aim for the middle of the green and hope you stay on. Otherwise you will be putting or chipping up slopes all day - and you had better be good at it.

"Your iron shots have to be so precise. Absolutely spot on. The way the course has been set up means it requires a lot of skill.

"I'm excited and hopefully my game will click. I've not been that happy with it lately, but I took last week off and I'm excited and bursting to go again.

"You can do yourself in by playing too much. You simply can't perform if you don't want to play. I discovered that last season and I'm learning how to pace myself."

Just to make the halfway cut would be a landmark in Price's late-blossoming career. He has failed to qualify six times for the Open championship at home and on the three occasions he did tee off he did not last longer than two rounds.

Price is one of five Europeans making his debut in the championship. German Sven Struver and Swedes Mathias Gronberg, Patrik Sjoland and Gabriel Hjertstedt are in the same boat.

Scot Andrew Coltart would have been playing only his second, but has had to pull out because of a rib muscle injury which was affecting his breathing.

With heat and humidity an added problem this week, it was decided that North Carolina was not the place for him to be.

Coltart could now play in the Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall in Newcastle next week to try to strengthen his claims for a Ryder Cup debut. He presently stands ninth in the table, but the US Open counts for European qualification as well as for the Americans.