Because, as the saying goes, you can certainly take the boy out of Corowa, but you’ll never take the Corowa out of the boy.

Even in the bright lights of the year’s second major championship.

“It’s a huge buzz to play in a tournament like this, and from a kid who grew up in a small country town with about 5000 people and a whole heap of sheep and cows, to come and play in a third US Open. It’s pretty cool,” he said in typical country tones with an appreciation of the path he’s trodden.

He’s 36 now, Fraser — quietly becoming a veteran who several times has threatened seriously big feats in world golf only to be hampered by injury.

But if you think he’s bitter as he prepared for his third US Open that started last night, you’re wrong.

Click below to hear from Fraser after his opening round 71 (+1) at the US Open.

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Fraser has – often far from the fanfare of former amateur peers – compiled a top career with two wins, 11 top threes and 20 other top-10 finishes in 13 years on the European Tour.

He was on the verge of making the Masters cut-off of the world’s top 50 early in 2013 — after a neck injury that required major surgery in 2011.

Then, just as that smooth swing was rediscovering its silky appearance, an excruciating hand injury required injections and more radical surgery that cost him most of 2014.

But now, after a clutch play-off birdie in European sectional qualifying to reach Chambers Bay this week, Fraser says he’s back — and in contention.

“Yeah, I think so. Game-wise it feels like I’m playing well again. I don’t have any issues with my hand and feel like I can do everything I want. I’m not protecting it at all, so it’s pretty good.

“I was heading in the right direction when that popped up.

“That’s just the cards I was dealt, but I feel like I deserve to be here and I’ll give it all I’ve got.

“The body’s still overweight and there’s plenty of cracks and creaks but, overall, it feels pretty good.”

Fraser made his major debut in the 2005 Open Championship and recalls the nerves vividly.

“I remember my first major, at St Andrews. I could barely take the club back on the first tee,” he said.

“If you don’t feel that you probably shouldn’t be there.”

But things have changed – in many ways.

“A lot more grey hairs and the stomach’s a bit bigger,” Fraser joked.

“But, hopefully, along the way, I’ve become a little bit wiser and more confident — hopefully more comfortable in this situation.

“I just want to go out and do as well as I can and see what I’ve got.

“This is my ninth major. Every time there’s a chance to go and qualify, you go — this is why we play the game.

“Whether it’s the biggest prize fund or not, you aim to play in the major championships.

“There are four chances a year to go and play in them and, for someone at my level at the moment, there are only two realistic chances a year. Luckily enough, I’m in both of them this year — the British Open and this week.

“It’s a completely different buzz around the place — the ultimate in golf to play in a major.”

Ever self-aware, Fraser is brutally honest about his lack of length compared with the game’s monsters, who many think will have an edge this week on the Chambers Bay layout at Tecoma in Washington state.

The course has four of the longest five par-fours in US Open history.

“Some will be tricky, and probably even one or two where I’ve got to hit three-wood into a green,” he said.

“But, hopefully, I can deal with it. I’ve always been a pretty good putter, so, hopefully, I can scramble a four and get on to the next hole.

“I’m one of the shortest hitters this week. I would always love to hit it a bit further but that’s not the case.

“But I think this course is a fair test. It’s obviously very tough, but it’s fair and generous off the tees.

“There are plenty of slopes and mounds. It all depends on how close they put the pins to those mounds.”

Don’t for a second think that Fraser views his length as an issue he can’t overcome.

As with the other setbacks he has faced in his career, he’ll just stare them down and press on in the firm belief he can win.

“Yeah, why not? I’ve been playing pretty steady all year and I’m one of 156 blokes with two arms, two legs and a set of golf clubs this week.

“I think everyone, especially around this course, thinks they’ve got a chance. I definitely feel that way.”