If ageless movie character Benjamin Button was a golfer, John Senden might represent perfect casting.
The evergreen Queenslander is 44, but he’s more confident than ever that his major championship career will continue to age like fine wine.
“I think so, I think I’m finally getting them worked out,” the affable Senden said after a practice round before his seventh US Open, the past six of which have been in succession and, true to form, getting better.
“Augusta National (three top 40s including a T8 in his past three Masters attempts) is definitely getting better in the second half of my times there.
“The US Open test has always been a bit of a hit and miss situation for me. My first run at them I didn’t handle them well, but then I handled Olympic (a T10 in 2012) well.”
A T15 at brutal Merion in 2013 was followed by a missed cut at Pinehurst last year, but even on the east coast classic, Senden said he “felt pretty good – and much better than I used to” in US Open week.
“I’ve always been a consistent performer on the tour, but the years keep on ticking away and I still feel there’s fuel in my tank with what I’d like to do in my career.
“Talking like that, I need to believe more in myself to actually stand on the stage and get it done, which I’m doing better.
“This (US Open) is the highest stage right here, with the world watching. If I can keep accepting and believing that it’s OK to win, I can go out there and do it.”
And the key for Senden this week at such a demanding venue can be summed up in one word: acceptance.
“This is the crucial key to this place. Even with perfect weather forecast, you think you can score in the benign conditions, but on this land, the way the ball bounces, you think you’ve hit a great shot and it could end in a spot where you are wondering how a ball could ever get there,” he said.
“You have to accept those situations – and that’s what golf is.
“It’s a game of acceptance and never more so than here.
“You have to believe, keep your thoughts and emotions to a level where you can perform great.
“This week is another test again – the US Open is probably golf’s greatest test, it tests every part of your game.
“But I think the golf course is in really nice shape. It’s dry and you’re going to have some extreme putting, but if you can accept that and keep level with your belief and emotions … you can compete.
“I like to think I can do that this week.”