Van de Velde fails to join jet-setter Olazabal

Published on 05/07/2009 23:31

JOSE Maria Olazabal and Jean Van de Velde both hope to grab a place in The Open tomorrow – after travelling to Scotland from Paris by very different means.

While double Masters champion Olazabal hired a private jet for around 6,000, Van de Velde booked on to a late-night Ryanair flight.

Olazabal, who tees off in the 36-hole final qualifying competition at Kilmarnock Barassie just after noon today, had waited for an hour after his final round at the French Open to offer Van de Velde a place on his jet.

But the 1999 Open runner-up had not received the text message that the lift was available and because his luggage was back at his hotel he had to let it go.

Van de Velde, who came through final qualifying with a closing birdie last year and went on to finish 19th at Birkdale, starts at Glasgow Gailes at 8:53am.

A total of 288 players are competing over three courses – Western Gailes is the other – for just 12 spots at Turnberry. England's Barry Lane, another former Ryder Cup team-mate of Olazabal, was also on the Ryanair flight – and he plays with Olazabal.

Olazabal will undoubtedly command attention as he attempts to ensure a 22nd Open appearance. The Spaniard has played in the last two Opens at Turnberry, finishing tied 38th in 1994 and tied 16th in 1986 meaning that, should he qualify, he will be one of the more experienced players over the Ailsa Course.

In addition, Barassie will host two former Ryder Cup competitors in Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson and Phillip Price of Wales. Johansson, the first Swede to play in the biennial team event on two occasions has played in nine Open Championships, though his last appearance was at St Andrews in 2000.

Price won the Ryder Cup with Europe in 2002 after beating Phil Mickelson in the final day singles. The Welshman has a best Open result of tied tenth, at Royal St George's in 2003, in nine attempts..

Competitors will play 18 holes today and tomorrow — with four places available at each of the three west coast venues.