WENTWORTH’s Ross Fisher finished in the top five for the first time in his career at the Major and declared: “My game is good enough to win one of the big four.”

The 29-year-old, who has already picked up two victories on the European Tour while working with StrokeAverage.com to analyse his game, told Sky TV viewers the first thing he was going to do after leaving New York’s Bethpage Park was check his putting stats.

The long-hitter, who reached the last four in the WGC Accenture Matchplay in Arizona, back in February, was described as having played the best golf tee to green in commentary by pundits Butch Harmon and fellow Tour player Thomas Bjorn.

But while he was unhappy with his performance with the flatstick – he missed a very short putt on the 12^th when pressing to catch leader and eventual winner Lucas Glover – last year’s European Open winner took great heart from his week in the Big Apple.

Fisher, who moved up to 22^nd place in the Official World Rankings after finishing in fifth spot in the US Open, said: "I think I'll probably go home and work on my putting, because not being funny, but if I would have held just a couple of putts, I think I could have won this comfortably.

“I feel like I've hit the ball so, so good - probably the best I've hit it ever in a tournament. Just couldn't hole any putts.

“And I was working on it this morning before I went out and played, and it felt good.

“And just the same again, just unfortunately kept hitting good shots and I even had to stiff it, give me a range or holding it 30 foot, because I couldn't buy a putt.

“Hit good crucial ones at the start and towards the end when you're in the thick of things the last four, five holes, that's where tournaments are won and lost, and unfortunately my putter went cold.

“It's a shame, but fifth place I think on my own, it's not bad. I was trying to get it right up top. I didn't manage it this week, but hopefully there will be things to come after this.

“I'll have a lot more US Opens and Majors to play in so I'm thoroughly looking forward to coming back and playing some more.”

After a spectacular eagle at the 13^th hole to bounce back from missing a tiddler on the 12^th, Fisher was in contention despite giving one of the two shots back at the 15^th.

And a three-putt bogey at the par three 17th hole finally put paid to his chances as both Phil Mickelson and David Duval hit the top of the leaderboard only to fall at the penultimate hurdle, the amphitheatre around the short par three, which is probably only surpassed for atmosphere by the 17^th at Arizona’s TPC at Scottsdale.

The former Surrey Colts champion, who graduated from the Wentworth academy under ex-Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher’s eye, was full of praise for the boisterous New York fans.

“Coming to New York, hearing the crowd; I just can't say enough for the crowd.

“Obviously they're cheering for Phil Mickelson and all the other guys, but I felt like I had a bit of support out there.

“And the crowd was a little bit loud at times, but they were just tremendous. I think they kept me going, they kept everyone going, because it's been a long week.

“It's something I'll never forget,” he said. “This is still a new experience for me. This is only my second US Open but what an experience.”

Fisher also congratulated Glover on conquering the challenging 7,426-yard Bethpage Black course in some of the wettest conditions ever seen at a US Open.

Ross added: “To play that golf course under normal US Open conditions would have been brutally tough.

“But it was long. It was tough. But I think overall it's been a very fair test. And I think you'll see a true, worthwhile champion.”

Fisher wasn’t the only StrokeAverage.com client with an eye on the future after a fine display on Long Island.

Ulsterman Rory McIlroy has been touted as the next golfer capapble of mounting a sustained challenge to Tiger Woods’ world number one title.

The 20-year-old who gained his maiden European Tour victory in Dubai, in January, moved up the leaderboard rapidly with a final round 68 to finish in the top 10.

McIlroy said: “I feel that I can be patient when I want to be. That's what the Majors are all about, patience and making pars. I only made one bogey on the 15th and it was just very solid golf.

“I know that my game can handle Majors. I had a great last round in Augusta, six under for the last 10 holes there and then a 68 here.

“Obviously it would be a little different if I was in the final group in the lead but hopefully I can get that experience and it is a case now of trying to get that position soon.”

Just over a year ago, Rory was struggling to meet the hype that surrounded his first handful of European Tour events, including a runners-up spot in the Dunhill Links at St Andrews.

But after a string of missed cuts, Rory started using StrokeAverage.com to interpret his stats and made a top 10 in his outing after his first face-to-face review with the analysts.

Since then, McIroy has lost two play-offs before finally claiming his first trophy in the Dubai Desert Classic.