The decision by a bunch of US tour-based pros to turn their back on The Open Championship has caused consternation among British golf fans and angered the organisers – the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
But, as they say, ‘it’s an ill wind that blows someone some good’ and a handful of British aspirants will be the beneficiaries at Royal Troon on Thursday.
Among them, hopefully, Neil Evans, the senior teaching pro from my own club Greetham Valley who’s currently second alternate (reserve) for a starting time on Thursday, after shooting rounds of 70 and 68 in the final qualifier at Turnberry Kintyre.
"I have had 13 birdies and seven bogeys over the two days. I went to look at Troon last night and it was awesome. If I get into The Open it will be a dream."
And he moved up one spot this morning after a bizarre finish to the US Tour’s John Deere Classic at Silvis, Illinois.
Australian Mark Hensby won at the first extra hole of a playoff and immediately bequeathed his automatic entry to The Open in Ayrshire to Englishman John E Morgan, with whom he tied on 16 under par. Hensby said he did not have enough time to prepare for links golf.
Morgan, from Bristol, a winner on the European Challenge Tour last year, who went on to qualify for the US PGA Tour, was thrilled to accept ‘the consolation prize’, along with a $400,000 cheque.
However, the R&A stepped in to confirm, that a place in The Open was ‘non-transferrable’
"It was a great gesture by Mark and it would have been lovely," said Morgan later, "but it’s just one of those things. You’ve got to follow the rules and the Tour apologised to me after getting my hopes up."
Simon Dyson in action.
|
Among those who got through the final qualifying were European Tour regulars Simon Dyson, Andrew Oldcorn and German Sven Struver plus the only two amateurs Steven Tiley from Royal Coinque Ports and Lloyd Campbell from Rochester & Cobham.
Meanwhile the R&A is re-assessing its procedures after introducing global qualifying events in the US, Japan, Asia, Australia and Europe and reducing the number of national qualifying spot to 15.
In the US qualifier at Congressional the week after the US Open, dozens of US Tour pros, failed to turn up, leaving a generous 15 places available from less than 70 entries.
While it’s good news for Neil and his fellow up and coming hopefuls, other may feel it devalues the field at Royal Troon this week.
Tell us what you think on
the forum.
