Former Ryder Cup captains Sam Torrance and Mark James have taken a step closer to fulfilling their ambition to play on the US PGA Champions Tour for senior golfers.
The pair were in Florida at the weekend to secure their places in final qualifying due to take place at Eagle Trace, Coral Springs from November 18-21.
James, who reached 50 on October 28, finished second at MetroWest GC, Orlando with a 16-under par total, while Torrance, who reached his half century in August and has already played a handful of events on the European Seniors Tour, finished just behind Zimbabwe's Mark McNulty at Lake Buena Vista.
Denis Durnian, from Manchester, also made it through to the next stage at MetroWest but among those who failed to qualify were John Chillas, Ian Mosey and Steve Stull.
The Champions Tour is an exclusive circuit that allows only former major winners, invitees and the previous year's top 30 automatically into its ranks and James and Torrance will have to finish in the top eight to gain exemption through final qualifying.
Phillip Price and Thomas Bjorn have pulled out of this week's World Cup at Kiawah Island, South Carolina, with 'flu and a neck injury respectively.
Anders Hansen will replace Bjorn to play alongside Soren Kjeldsen, while Ian Woosnam, currently holiday in Barbados could link up with Bradley Dredge.
England will be represented by Paul Casey and Justin Rose, who finished tied third last year, while Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth play for Scotland.
