Late call-offs see Paul McGinley win 11th-hour qualifier spot

PAUL McGinley has received a late call-up into today's Open Championship qualifier at his home course Sunningdale - thanks to fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie.

McGinley's world ranking of 551st at the close of entries had failed to earn him a place in a 96-strong field chasing ten spots at Sandwich next month.

But former world No 1 Vijay Singh withdrew after making the halfway cut at the Memorial tournament in Ohio and Lawrie then pulled out after his wife Philippa gave birth to their fourth child - and first son - on Friday night.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Singh, who finished a shot behind Curtis in 2003, has instead decided to play the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis and could still earn an Open exemption.

The biggest name taking part is last year's Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, desperate to make it 22 Open appearances in a row.

Joining Montgomerie in today's field are Richie Ramsay, Scott Jamieson, Lloyd Saltman, Steven O'Hara, George Murray, Marc Warren, David Drysdale, Peter Whiteford and Alastair Forsyth.

Ramsay will be especially determined to be among the qualifiers after his disappointment of missing out on a play-off for a spot in the US Open in last week's qualifier at Walton Heath.

Also in the field will be yesteday's Wales Open winner Alex Noren, who will have had little time to celebrate his second European Tour victory as made his way to Sunningdale for this morning's event. The Swede will hope to emulate the feat of Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell who won in Wales last year and went on to clinch the US Open at Pebble Beach.

Liverpool's Nick Dougherty, who has missed his last 13 European Tour cuts going back to last November, is another to benefit from a high-profile withdrawal in the shape of Thomas Bjorn.

The Dane decided to pull out last night, handing Dougherty, who was first reserve, his chance. On Friday Bjorn missed the cut in the Saab Wales Open, his first tournament since the death of his father three weeks ago.

However, there are still a number of avenues available to him to be part of the starting line-up at Royal St George's next month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Open returns there for the first time since 2003, and Bjorn's name was writ large over the tournament. On the final day, he stood on the 15th tee three strokes clear of the field and with a first major title in his sights.

Bjorn, however, followed a bogey with a double bogey - he was in a greenside bunker and needed three attempts to get out - and then another bogey at the 17th.A par on the last left American Ben Curtis, playing the first major of his life, as the surprise winner and Bjorn in shock.

The 40-year-old has not had a top-40 finish in the event since and prior to his decision to pull out of today's qualifying event, he said: "I played some of the best golf of my life that week, but I just didn't finish it off.

"That's what happens in golf. But I don't dwell on it at all. I knew that the next time The Open was at St George's it was going to come up, but what can you do about it? I'm grateful that I've been able to put myself in those positions - most guys never get in that position.

"It would have been nice to have won an Open and get your career on from there, but it didn't happen," he added.

Ten places at Royal St George's will be on offer for the hopefuls. at Sunningdale.

Related topics: