It could hardly have been a better week for the Australians at the 115th US Open at Chambers Bay.

Not only did eight players from our shores earn a place in the field (third highest non US representation behind England with 11 and South Africa with nine) but six of those went on to make the cut.

The icing on the cake was the way the Australian contingent performed once the gun went off: five of the six players finishing inside the top-20, two of those in the top-5.

It’s difficult to pick a highlight from the four days at Chambers Bay. From Adam Scott’s course record Sunday 64 to Cameron Smith all but assuring a PGA TOUR card for next season to the heroic efforts of Jason Day to play through illness and share the lead after 54 holes there is much for Australian fans to reflect on.
 
Scott and Smith, in particular, played more than minor roles in what turned out to be the most thrilling finish to a US Open since Tiger Woods’ 2008 victory despite a fractured leg.
 
After three frustrating days of good but not great golf Scott caught fire Sunday riding a hot putter and some pure ball striking to a stunning round which saw him briefly hold the clubhouse lead towards the end of play.
The decision to lure Steve Williams out of retirement for the last three majors of the year appears to already be paying dividends for Scott whose form prior to this week had been on a downward trajectory.
 
The pair looked comfortable and confident on the course and Scott’s Sunday play was proof positive he will be a force to be reckoned with in big events for some time to come.
 
For Smith the week could well end up being life changing as the 21-year-old has all but ensured he will play the PGA TOUR next season.
 
While it was exciting to make highlight reels around the world with his stunning 3-wood approach to within a foot of the final hole it is the ongoing benefits of finishing T4 which will ultimately prove more significant.
 
As a non member of the PGA TOUR Smith was entitled to just seven tournament invitations to try to earn Special Temporary Membership, a category that would allow him unlimited tournament invitations for the rest of the season.
 
Needing in the vicinity of 100 FedEx Cup points to become eligible for that status, and having used all seven of his allowed TOUR invites, his high finish this week has all but achieved that goal.
 
The former Australian Amateur champion has all the tools to succeed on the PGA TOUR and his performance this week will make him an attractive target for tournament directors the rest of this year.
 
While Scott and Smith had Sundays to remember Jason Day was less than his best after a third round 68 which had captured the attention, and respect, of golf fans worldwide.
 
Late on Friday Day had collapsed walking off the ninth tee, his 18th hole, an attack of the ongoing vertigo condition which has plagued him in recent months almost ending his tournament early.
 
But despite the discomfort Day took his place in the field Saturday and produced one of the most remarkable rounds in recent memory to not only take a share of the lead but book a place in the final group on Sunday.
 
It was always going to be a tough assignment for the World Number 10 to back up in the final round and over the course of the day he succumbed, a number of uncharacteristically poor putts seeing him drop to a share of ninth.
 
While Scott, Day and Smith will grab the bulk of the headlines it was an excellent week for John Senden and Geoff Ogilvy also.
 
Senden found the going tough over the first 36 holes but acquitted himself well over the weekend with rounds of 70-68.
 
His 2-under round on Sunday in the company of Rory McIlroy was particularly impressive and a T14 result was hard earned.
 
For Geoff Ogilvy it was only a third round 75 which marred an otherwise excellent week. The 2006 US Open champion was vocal in his praise for the Chambers Bay course and his play in all but Saturday’s round suggested he was enjoying himself.
 
While T18 wouldn’t have been quite the result he was looking for his Sunday round of 67 was a highlight.
Marcus Fraser was the last of the Australians to make the cut and, like Ogilvy, it was the third round which marred his week.
 
Having done the hard work to make the cut Fraser went backwards with a Saturday 77, a score that wasn’t difficult to wrack up on a course that averaged almost four strokes over par for the field.
Marc Leishman and Kurt Barnes were the two Australians to miss the weekend’s play.