UNITED fan Phil Archer has already achieved one of his main goals this season by landing a place in next week's US Open at Winged Foot.

And no sooner had the ink dried on his card after qualifying at Walton Heath, than the 34-year-old Birchwood tournament professional was already contemplating his next one.

Archer, who will make his Major debut in New York, will return to Surrey later this month for the Open Championship international final qualifying round at Sunningdale.

And if he can maintain his resurgent form, he is confident he can make it to Royal Liverpool next month.

It took four holes for him to beat the other three contenders in a sudden-death play-off at Walton Heath, which he put down to his newly found confidence.

That was evident last week after his much-publicised course record 60 - a lipped putt away from the lowest score on the European Tour - in the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

Quality

He hung in there the next day, then slipped back in the third round only to show his fighting qualities with a closing 67 for fourth place.

"I made a slow start then pulled my game together again, which I might not have done in the past," he admitted.

"The truth is I'm feeling more comfortable after three years on tour and I know my game is good enough to compete."

He also attributed his success to making 13 successive cuts at the end of last season to keep his card by the skin of his teeth - and consulting Culcheth-based sport psychologist Karl Morris, who is also a professional golfer.

"A lot of the routine we have worked on over the last four years are today in place and they are helping me to stay positive and deflect the pressure," he said.

"We are still refining things and I see Karl regularly because he's travelling to more tour events." Archer has a third goal, playing in the Ryder Cup, but while accepting it's "miles away," he felt that anything was possible.

"You never know, if I can get a win on the board it could happen. I've come on leaps and bounds in the last six weeks."

For the time being, however, he's dreaming of leaving his imprint on Winged Foot - and playing in front of the huge galleries in the Open at Hoylake.

"That would be fantastic, especially on a course so near to home and in front of local people," he said.

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