Balanced Goosen able to take it all in his easy stride

The timetable may have been a little awry. Retief Goosen was regarded as one of South Africa's brightest young prospects in a generation that included Ernie Els. While he initially struggled to realise that expectation, he finally delivered on that potential last month at the tender age of 32 when, to the surprise of many, he won the US Open Championships, in a playoff against Mark Brooks.

Three victories on the European tour in France, and a superb record in the Alfred Dunhill Cup - he was one short of Greg Norman's 11 successive wins - illustrated his ability but were hardly compelling credentials for success in one of golf's majors. Today at the K Club, Goosen tees it up in his first competitive outing since his unlikely US Open triumph.

The last few weeks have allowed him to deal with the mental as well as practical impositions of his new status. On the evidence of his recovery from the three putt on the home green in the final round that forced the playoff with Brooks, the South African should be resilient enough to cope with the pressure.

Perched beside the US Open trophy in the media centre, Goosen presented a relaxed figure as he tried to explain the pandemonium of the last few weeks.

"I must say, it's been quite manic. I'm doing a lot of interviews and a few ads for my sponsors, but otherwise I think I'm back down on the planet again."

On arriving home - he lives in England - on the Tuesday, Goosen took the phone off the hook. It would be the following day before he took any calls. A couple of calls gave him particular pleasure.

"I spoke to Nelson Mandela and President Mbeki." He wasn't in when Mandela called but when he did catch up with the South African icon, Goosen received his best wishes.

"He said 'well done, well played' and that it was great to see South African sports people doing well. He watched a bit of the tournament and said that he hopes I bring the money back to South Africa to invest in the country. I said I would think about it."

Mind you, for Goosen it really is a case of the cheque is in the post, having not received the purse for his US Open triumph.

He laughed: "I think they must be trying to get a bit of extra interest on it."

His three putt on the 18th green in the final round at Tulsa dominated the post-tournament media outpourings. Goosen harbours no demons. "No, I haven't really thought about it as much as everyone else has. It's just another three putt.

"Alright, it was to win the US Open, but if it happened to me on the 17th it wouldn't have been so bad. I was the unlucky guy to three putt and the last guy to do it. It hasn't affected me as much as other people think it should. Things happen in life and it happened for a reason, so you've just got to learn from that.

"I can't explain why I missed. I tried to knock it in and go home. I changed my mindset right there and then and knocked the next one in. I knew I had another chance tomorrow. The third putt was probably the hardest because I needed it to give me another chance."

The South African is content to remain on the European tour for the remainder of the season at least. "Next year I haven't planned anything yet but this year it's Europe. I am definitely still supporting the European tour. I have no intentions of running off and not playing here any more."

Goosen did concede that he had spoken to Ernie Els, seeking his advice on what the future should hold. He also sought out Paul Lawrie, the 1999 British Open champion.

As to his current well being? In yesterday's Pro-Am, Goosen, despite his protestations that the course is tougher, managed a six-under-par 66 that included eight birdies and two bogeys. Yesterday the starter did not announce him as the US Open champion. That will be rectified.