Devlin plans Irish homecoming

Fairytale US Open qualifier Chris Devlin plans to give his summer a happy ending with an emotional trip home.

The Alabama-based Ulsterman, 33, revealed that he was "embarrassed" to finish joint last at Torrey Pines on 25-over par.

But his cloud could have a silver lining in the shape of sponsor"s invitations to play on the Challenge Tour in August.

And that means he will be able to come home with his wife and two children and put a smile on his mother"s face.

"I want to come home and see my mother," said Devlin, who missed the cut after rounds of 84 and 83. "She doesn"t want to see me. She just wants to see my kids. It will be good to come home because I haven"t been home for a couple of years.

"The guys from Horizon Sports Management have promised me an invite for the European Challenge Tour event at Glasson in August.

"With the way the dollar is at the moment, I am not just going to go over for the week. With a bit of luck I get into Wales the week before as well and hopefully I can get a couple of starts."

Devlin will come back to earth after his US Open high when he plays in a Hooters Tour event at Peoria Ridge Golf Club in Miami this week.

But he believes he will eventually make it as a touring pro in the big leagues, adding: "I know I will get there in the end and it is just a question of persevering as long as I can."