James Hanging In There

By Alex Miceli

Hutchinson, Kan. - Mark James was English through and through in his seminal golf years.  In his 28 years as a professional before turning 50, James played almost exclusively on the European Tour, winning 18 times in 564 appearances. He won all over the world except on the PGA Tour, where he had limited exposure.

From 1979 to 2000, James never played in more than four events on the PGA Tour in any one year

Mark James can only watch, helplessly, as his birdie try on the 10th hole misses Friday. (John Mummert/USGA)

and only totaled 29 tournaments as he recorded five top 10s. His best finish was a T-3 at the 1981 British Open.  Of those 29 events he played on the PGA Tour, 20 were British Opens, he appeared once in the 1999 WGC-American Express at Valderrama, Spain, and the remainders were on U.S. soil. None of those eight events in the U.S. were the U.S. Open.

James, 52, made the transition to the U.S. full time in 2004 when he joined the Champions Tour. He won his first major championship of his career at the 2004 Ford Senior Players Championship and then followed that up with a win at the 2005 The ACE Group Classic.   

In those first two years on the Champions Tour, James was 18th in 2004 and 19th in 2005 on the money list and played in 20 events in 04' and 18 events in 05', surpassing the number of tournaments he played in the U.S. for his first 28 years.

Now James is in position to win his first U.S. Open, albeit a senior after shooting 68-69 for a 3-under total.

"It was solid again," said James of his three birdie and two bogey performance.  "I played well.  I hit my irons very well today.  Pretty much exactly where I was aiming the whole day, which is unusual.  Didn't hole much.  Started with a three-putt.  But overall it was -- I was pleased."

James has been solid all week, hitting an average 12 fairways and 14 greens. But his putter could have cooperated a little more as his average of 31 putts has held him back.

Still pleased with his performance, James has had his problems this year, playing in only eight events. He is ranked 29th with $306,777 to his credit.

"I haven't played great lately," he said. "I've been putting really badly, and I incurred a couple of injuries on and off."

James pinched a disk in the back earlier in the season at the Liberty Mutual Legends in April, then hurt his hand playing out of a water hazard in May at the Regions Charity Classic in Birmingham. Then his back gave him problems a few weeks ago in Des Moines at the Allianz Championship. That affected his swing and he finished tied for 53rd.

"The back is still numb," James said of the most recent injury. "The skin around the left side there.  It is OK now at least.  So, yeah, I mean it has sort of been up and down there.  And I lost my putting, so it's just sort of been unsettling.  But I feel settled this week."

Is it enough to carry him into the lead come late Sunday?

Alex Miceli is a freelance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.ussenioropen.com.