Golf: English pair off to Beach

TWO English players in their first full season on the European Tour can now add an extra event to their schedules – next month's US Open at Pebble Beach.

James Morrison, who has already been in a play-off for the Spanish Open, won yesterday's 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath with superb rounds of 68 and 65.

Three strokes behind on eight under par and in a tie for third spot was another Challenge Tour graduate Gary Boyd, at 23 the younger by two years and yet to achieve his first top ten finish on the main circuit.

Boyd missed the cut in the 2008 Open at Birkdale, but for Morrison it will be a first major and he said: "I've only ever seen Pebble Beach on television and it looks fantastic."

Eleven places were up for grabs but Simon Khan, winner of the previous day's BMW PGA victory at Wentworth, and Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie both failed in their bids.

Montgomerie missed by three shots with two rounds of 70, and Khan dropped out after a six-man play-off for five spots on seven under but remains a reserve for Pebble Beach.