Marcus Fraser has a pretty sound perspective on life, so his initial reaction needs to be taken in its true comedic spirit and intention.
But when the Corowa ace, who still loves his golf, finally escapes the Chambers Bay torture chamber and says the following, you have to wonder about just how hard that test really is.
“That might be me done for US Opens, I think I’ve had enough,” Fraser said with a broad grin after signing for a 74 to finish 13 over.
“Nah, not really. At the moment it feels that way, but that’s not even an option.”
Fraser, in his third US Open, was poised for a big weekend after twin opening rounds of 71.
But a 77-74 finish left him considering what he’d even learnt on one of the most controversial courses in US Open history.
“Not much really – a whole lot of stuff I already knew,” he said.
“The weekend sucked, to be honest.
“I felt like I was going in the right direction for the first 36 holes, then I’ve just chucked it in reverse and went backwards all weekend – it’s a bit frustrating.”
Fraser has a full month ahead, taking in the French, Scottish and British Open championships, so he’s hoping the final-round grind will be the lasting benefit.
“Look, it’s a lot of fun out there – it’s just hard yakka,” he said.
“Playing a golf course as hard as that, it’s how you want to test yourself and it showed me I’ve got a hell of a lot to improve on.
“The next month … are all on really firm golf courses, but hopefully I can string a few good weeks together.
“I’ll just have to play better than I did today … that was just rubbish.”
Fraser managed three birdies today, including one to close his round. But he had to balance that against five bogeys and a double.
But he vowed nothing would break his major championship desire.
“I’ll come back harder next time.
“I played poorly, but I played the golf course poorly, too – it was if all the good week I’d done earlier this week came undone.
“But I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again, just hopefully not too often.”
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