Warren targets Carnoustie

Published on 02/07/2007 00:15

MARC Warren, last season's European Tour rookie of the year, is one of a host of Scots hoping to book an Open place in today's International Final Qualifier at Sunningdale.

The 26-year-old from Glasgow, who missed the cut in the French Open at the weekend after struggling to two rounds in the 80s, will be keen to bounce back to form and grab one of the twelve Carnoustie spots on offer in the 36-hole shoot-out.

Warren is joined in a 120-strong field by former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart and European Tour winners Stephen Gallacher, Gary Orr and Alastair Forsyth. Euan Little and David Drysdale, both past champions on the European Challenge Tour, are also competing over Sunningdale's Old and New courses.

One player not teeing-up today is Frenchman Jean Van de Velde. The 41-year-old, who will always be remembered for his final hole collapse the last time the Open was held at Carnoustie in 1999, has withdrawn from qualifying due to ill health.

Welshman Ian Woosnam, who led Europe to victory in the Ryder Cup last year, has been handed a place in the starting line-up providing the former Masters winner shrugs off the effects of a virus which has plagued him all year. Other hopefuls looking to secure a trip to Carnoustie include Englishman Nick Dougherty and former Ryder Cup players Jarmo Sandelin, Phillip Price and Peter Baker.

Dougherty, who came through qualifying to finish seventh in last month's US Open, would have avoided the Sunningdale qualifier by finishing third in the French Open but he finished 25th.