Nick O'Hern hasn't played much on the PGA TOUR this year. But in the few events he has entered, he has been remarkably successful. The 34-year-old left-hander from Perth, Australia has finished in the top 25 in five of the eight tournaments he has played this year. His best finish came at the Booz Allen Classic where he tied for second place.

"Apart from the first day, where I played really badly, I'm just doing what I normally do, fairways and greens," O'Hern said. "I'm just putting well at the moment."

O'Hern's impressive performance at the Booz Allen Classic followed his best showing at a major. O'Hern tied for sixth at the U.S. Open a week earlier, his first top 10 finish at a major in 10 starts. These back-to-back accomplishments moved him into 23rd place in the Official World Golf Ranking, making him one of five Australians ranked in the top 25.

"My all-around game was okay at the Open, two good days, two ordinary days," O'Hern said. "The U.S. Open is a completely different kettle of fish. It's more about survival."

Like most of golfers who endured Winged Foot's punishment, O'Hern needed some time to recover from the ordeal. He was still a little beaten down by the U.S. Open when he went out on the first day of the Booz Allen Classic and shot a 3-over-par 74. He quickly righted himself with three rounds in the 60s, moving from a tie for 119th into a tie for second place.

"I was very tired the first day," O'Hern said. "My brain wasn't quite there I don't think. I got my act together on Friday."

This strong stretch of golf comes after a tumultuous period in his personal life. Because of his wife Alana's difficult pregnancy and subsequent premature birth of his daughter Hayley, O'Hern skipped several events to be with his family. Hayley was due the week of the U.S. Open, but arrived six weeks early. O'Hern nearly dropped out of the U.S. Open in order to be with his wife and child. But after being assured of their well-being, he return to the United States. It hasn't been easy being so far away from home.

Hayley is "doing well now," O'Hern said. "Everyone is doing fine. I wasn't sure how well they were going to be. Then two weeks before I came away [to the United States], we brought our daughter home [from the hospital] and everything started working out all right. It's really hard now [to be in the United States] with two kids and my wife at home, especially being on the other side of the world. I'd love to be at home."

After playing in this week's Buick Classic, O'Hern will return to Australia for two weeks to spend time with Alana, Hayley and 2-year-old daughter Riley. Then it is off to the British Open and back to the PGA TOUR, where he needs to play in seven more events to keep his exemption. Because he was a member of the 2005 President's Cup International Team, O'Hern is exempt through 2007 but must play the required number of tournaments to keep his status.

"I just have to get my 15 events," said O'Hern, who is in his second full season on the PGA TOUR. "That means I can come back next year and play a full year."

A European Tour regular since 1999, O'Hern continues to play both tours. Earlier this year, he tied for third at the HSBC Champions Tournament and finished second at the Johnnie Walker Classic -- his seventh second-place finish in the last four years. O'Hern, winner of four tournaments in Australia, has yet to pick up his first victory on either the European or PGA TOURs. He intends to keep his rigorous schedule of bouncing back and forth between Europe and the United States while maintaining a home in Australia. He only needs to play in 11 events to retain his European Tour status.

"Next year, it will be the same again, playing European events early in January then we'll come across here and play six months here," O'Hern said. "With the majors and the world events counting for both tours, I can get my numbers up in Europe quite easily."