James Sugrue admits he would jump at the chance of playing in next week's Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, though he has yet to be invited to Galgorm Spa and Golf Resort.
One of only four Irishmen in the US Open field this week, at present only one of them - Shane Lowry - is travelling to the county Antrim venue for the rearranged Irish Open.
Lowry gave himself a great chance of making the cut at Winged Foot with a gritty second round 70, picking up two birdies in the final three holes to get inside the cut line this afternoon.
But Sugrue had a tough time of it over the first two days, following up a 78 on Thursday with a 79 today on the difficult championship course, although he was at least pleased he managed to knock in three birdies in his second round.
" Yeah, I suppose I just didn't play well," reflected Sugrue, who was in the field because he won the British Amateur championship last year.
"Even kind of leading up to this, I wasn't playing my best. I was here 10 days before the tournament started, and I just wasn't really firing.
"It's kind of bizarre because I didn't lose a ball the last two days and I shot what I shot, which is kind of mad.
"I think it's just tough. As I said, I wasn't playing my best, didn't know where the ball was going off the tee, and just can't do that around here.
"Out here, like there's very little margin for error. Off the tee, which would usually be my strongest point, I just didn't really know where the ball was going.
"So, yeah, it's always going to be tough - especially out here with rough like that and narrow fairways. When you don't know where the ball is going, it's going to be an uphill battle.
"As bad as I played, I just tried to enjoy it.
"I know it's hard to enjoy it when you're not playing well and you're not making birdies, but I just tried my best. I still had a good week. I still enjoyed myself. I enjoyed my time over here.
"I'll be sad to be going home on Monday."
Asked what's next for him, Sugrue replied: " What's next? Good question."
Despite missing the cut in last year's British Open that was won by Lowry in Portrush, and despite having an invite for the Masters next month, the 23-year-old has had no contact from Irish Open organisers.
Playing partner Lee Westwood highlighted the situation after yesterday's round, and Sugrue admitted he was also "a little bit" surprised there was been no contact made.
"I thought that I had done enough to warrant an invitation," he said. "Obviously, it's not my decision.
"I don't know whose decision it is or who hands out invitations, but, yeah, I wouldn't dwell on it too much. If I'm in, I'm in. If I'm not, I'm not. It's not the end of the world.
"It would be a pretty quick turnaround coming home from here. I'm not too sure what the story is with me coming home and quarantine and stuff like that. It's in the North of Ireland this year, so they have different rules (than) the Republic, so it's all a little bit messy.
"If the opportunity came up, I'd definitely play.
"If I didn't have to quarantine and didn't play, probably just practicing, probably head down to Adare Manor. I've been doing a lot of practice down there.
"It's probably the best place in Ireland to practice and play. Facility-wise, just top notch. So that's where you'd probably find me."
But he would love to be in Ballymena next week, alongside Lowry and Padraig Harrington.
"Yeah, definitely," said the 23-year-old. "I've never played (in it).
"Last year it was at Lahinch, which would be pretty close to my house and one of my favorite courses, and I couldn't play because I think it was a Rolex event last year, and also because we had European Team championships, so I couldn't play.
"So, yeah, I would love to. it would be great to get a start in the Irish Open. That would be brilliant.
"I would definitely take up on that offer if it was possible.
"In terms of tournament golf, there isn't really a whole lot happening in Ireland. Before the Masters, maybe I might have one amateur tournament at home. Other than that, not a whole lot.
"I'm not sure what the amateur scene is like over here at the minute, but in Ireland, coronavirus really hit it hard and more or less everything got cancelled, apart from three tournaments.
"So, yeah, it's just a lot of practice really."
As for the future and turning pro, Sugrue says he'll be patient.
"Not yet," he remarked. "Obviously, if you had asked me that a year ago, I would be pro by now.
"But obviously with coronavirus, nobody really knows what's happening and what's around the corner.
"Even in Ireland the cases are going up day by day. I think Dublin are on some sort of lockdown at the minute, I'm not too sure, but that's what I'm hearing anyway.
"So I suppose the future, it's hard to say.
"I'd love to play Walker Cup again. I'd love to play Walker Cup in America. Obviously, last year was in Hoylake, and we didn't get the result we wanted.
"I'd like another bite at the cherry. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I played already, so it was definitely ticked off the list, but yeah".
