Nick’s Open for business

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 Aussie from 13 hopefuls to progress from 10 cut-throat 36hole sectional qualifiers across the US yesterday.

Competing in a field of 58 in 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 win special is Flanagan’s fightback from a run of injuries that prevented him from playing a US PGA Tour event since May 2012.

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 said.

San Antonio-based Flanagan became the first Aussie 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.