Nick Flanagan may not have played a US Open in 13 years, but the talented Novocastrian won't be going to Erin Hills just to make up the numbers as he reboots an injury-interrupted career.
Flanagan emerged as the only Australian from 13 hopefuls to progress from 10 cut-throat 36-hole sectional qualifiers across the US on Monday.
Competing in a field of 58 in Dallas, Texas, the former US Amateur champion bagged one of only three spots on offer at Dallas' Lakewood Country Club.
The 32-year-old Flanagan backed up his first round of four-under-par 68 with a blistering 63 to finish in solo second place.
Making his triumph more special is Flanagan's fightback from a horror run of injuries that prevented him from playing a US PGA Tour event since May 2012.
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His status on the secondary Web.com Tour has also slipped - Flanagan last held a full card in 2015 and since then he's only played two tournaments.
"It's been a slow couple of years, with injuries in the past four years. 2017 is the first year in longtime I've been able to play golf week in, week out," Flanagan told AAP.
San Antonio-based Flanagan became the first Australian in 100 years to win the US Amateur championship in 2003.
With it came a start at the 2004 US Open at the famed Shinnecock Hills in New York and Flanagan hasn't played the year's second major since.
But Flanagan, who won three Web.com Tour events in 2007 to earn an instant "battlefield" promotion to the PGA Tour, isn't going to be intimidated by the world's best players at Erin Hills.
"I'll be a little nervous, but I'm not going to be overawed. And I'm not going up there to make up the numbers. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it and commit to every shot," said Flanagan.
"I know my game is there and the US Open is one stepping stone to better things."
Last year, Flanagan caddied for good friend and fellow Australian Aaron Price at the US Open at Oakmont.
In Florida, Robert Allenby (71,71) finished at two-over to miss out on qualifying by three shots, while Matt Jones (67, 70, five under) and Stuart Appleby (68, 70, four under) failed to progress in Memphis, Tennessee.
Rod Pampling (67, 73, four under) and Ashley Hall (73, 73, two over) also missed out in Columbus, Ohio.
Brett Coletta, Curtis Luck and Matt Goggin (Ohio), Rhein Gibson (Georgia), Aaron Price (Maryland), Lucas Herbert (Washington State) all withdrew during their second rounds.
