ROB DINWIDDIE has tried 13 times to qualify for the Open Championship and 13 times he has failed - but he started playing his second US Open even if things did not go quite to plan.

He failed to enjoy himself quite as much as he did first time around at Torrey Pines three years ago.

The 28-year-old Durham golfer was only five shots off the lead at the halfway stage of his first major before slipping back to 36th.

But his second appearance at the US showpiece failed to herald similar success. At the Congressional last night, Dinwiddie ended seven over after bogeys at three, eight, nine and 14 plus double bogeys at ten and 18.

It meant he was nearer to the bottom of the leaderboard than the top and he faces a mammoth task to make today's cut.

"I've done exactly the same as I did for Torrey because it worked all right there," said Dinwiddie before teeing off on the tenth in Maryland. "I had a full practice round on Sunday when it was quiet, then Monday completely off - I didn't even come to the course - and then nine holes Tuesday and nine Wednesday. It means so much to be here. Even going out for a practice round you're nervous.

"It's completely different to a regular European Tour event - you spend so much time stopping to sign autographs and the days are so much longer. ‘'