Northern Kentucky's Steve Flesch posted his second career PGA Tour victory last month, winning the Bank of America Colonial event to move into the top 10 on this year's tour money list and into the ninth spot for this year's Ryder Cup team. This week, he's the lone Greater Cincinnatian in the field for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in Long Island, N.Y. He talked about the Open and his season with Enquirer contributor Carey Hoffman.

Question: Evaluate the state of your game right now.

Answer: Really, I just look at my work with (instructor) Butch Harmon the last two years and how it allows me to recognize my problems faster. Until I started working with him a year and a half ago, I didn't have much understanding of my swing, and now I understand what's going wrong when I get in trouble.

Q: What made you turn to Harmon for help?

A: I felt like in 2001-02 that I really played very poorly for what I thought I could do out here. So I thought I would go to the guy who was helping the best player in the world at the time (Tiger Woods). ... After a couple of sessions, he pinpointed a couple of problems, and I started feeling better.

Q: With two career wins under your belt, does that increase the emphasis on performing well and proving yourself in a major?

A: It was one of my goals at the beginning of the year anyway. My performance in the majors has been so poor. The Masters (where Flesch tied for 17th) was a step in the right direction. I should do better. I just have to be patient. There's so much hoopla going on (at a major), you just can't wear yourself out on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Q: Do you have much experience with Shinnecock, and how do you feel about how links courses suit your game?

A: You're competing against the golf course at the U.S. Open. But this is the first time I've ever been here; I feel like I just got off the plane in Scotland. It's so reminiscent of those courses. I love links courses. I love when the wind blows. It's another dimension you don't see much on the tour. You have to use your imagination and keep the ball down out of the wind.

Q: The previous time the Open was at Shinnecock, Corey Pavin, a player not entirely dissimilar to you in that he's not the biggest guy or the longest hitter, showed great tenacity in coming away with the championship. Does his success give you any extra confidence that this can be an Open course where you can succeed?

A: Yes, and the fact that Ray Floyd (in 1986) won it before him, too. Just in the nine holes I played (Monday), you can see that a bomber doesn't have a big advantage here. You have to manipulate the ball in the wind, move your ball around a little bit, and you can't hit it into the wrong spots.

Q: When you look at the rest of the season, what stands out? Is it the majors and then the possibility of a Ryder Cup experience?

A: Exactly. That hits the nail on the head. I can look ahead and think about maybe a Ryder Cup, but I still have to play very well to make it. Obviously, if I can compete well in the next three majors, it would be key in making that happen.

Q: The Ryder Cup in September is at Oakland Hills, near Detroit - pretty close to home for you and close enough that your fans could attend.

A: A lot of people have mentioned that to me. They've told me they'll be there if I'm there. It would kind of be unbelievable for me, to get there from where I was (early in my career), playing the Asian Tour. All I can say is it would be very rewarding.