Richie Ramsay's hopes fade as Robert Rock secures visa

The 34-year-old Englishman had missed Tuesday's deadline for registration at Congressional because he was still in London arranging the necessary travel documentation.

However, Rock managed to get his visa at the US embassy despite the short notice and was expected to arrive later last night, a European Tour official confirmed. While Rock will be delighted to take up his place in the year's second major, he is likely to set off in today's opening round without having seen much of the hosting par-71 Congressional layout.

Rock is scheduled to tee off at 2.19pm local time (7.19pm BST) in the company of American Kevin Chappell and South Korean Kim Do-hoon.

Rock, who won his maiden European Tour title at the Italian Open in Turin on Sunday, booked his place at the US Open via an international qualifying event at Walton Heath, England last month. Should he not make it to Congressional in time for the opening round, his spot would be offered to first alternate, Richie Ramsay, organisers said.

Two weeks ago, Ramsay should have been in a play-off at Walton Heath, but arrived too late after thinking he had not done enough earlier in the day.

The former US Amateur champion went to Heathrow Airport in the hope of attending the wedding reception of fellow tour player Gareth Maybin in Belfast, but after missing the flight was told about the play-off possibility.

He drove back into the car park at the Surrey club just as Swede Johan Edfors was beating Dane Andreas Harto at the first extra hole in near-darkness.

With Harto then being given a place in the event, Ramsay became first reserve, but it looked likely to end in disappointment again.

"All I know is that I'm not in the field yet and I can't go and practise on the course," said the Aberdeen golfer.

It is one of the US Open's controversial policies that reserves are allowed only to walk the lay-out and not hit shots on it until they have a place in the event.