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Nineteen gamers from a beginning discipline of 288 throughout secured their locations in golf’s unique championship at occasions held at Dundonald, Royal Cinque Ports, Royal Porthcawl and West Lancashire.
The variety of locations for Closing Qualifying was elevated from 16 to 19 with further spots allotted to occasions at Royal Cinque Ports, Royal Porthcawl and West Lancashire primarily based on a power of discipline calculation carried out in any case competing golfers had began the primary spherical.
Dundonald (4 locations)
Native favorite Michael Stewart led the qualifiers at Dundonald to safe his debut in The Open after carding a superb six-under-par second spherical 66.
The 33-year-old, who hails from close by Irvine and performs on the European Problem Tour, adopted up on his opening spherical of 71 to make a late surge by way of the sphere with 4 birdies in his final 5 holes to complete on a five-under-par whole of 137, two away from England’s Marco Penge.
The ultimate two locations had been determined in a three-way play-off. Scottish-born Australian Connor McKinney secured his place with a birdie on the second play-off gap (the eleventh) and Graeme Robertson holed from virtually 40ft to edge out his fellow Scot Craig Ross on the fifth play-off gap (the eleventh once more).
Michael Stewart
“It was a terrific day and a very good final six holes. It was nice to have that help on the market. It was a really testing day particularly this morning. I’m completely delighted.
“It was simply good being an area lad and having so many people on the market supporting me. It provides you a little bit little bit of momentum or a little bit little bit of encouragement when issues perhaps aren’t going fairly based on plan.
“Hoylake is without doubt one of the only a few Opens I’ve been at. I performed within the Junior Open in 2006 (at Heswall) and went alongside as a spectator. I’ve fond many reminiscences of the place and we had been then when Tiger received.”
Marco Penge
“It was a little bit of a rollercoaster day. It was taking part in so robust early on. It was so chilly with the rain and the wind.
“I used to be 5 over by way of 13 after which I hit a terrific shot in to 14. Then I sort of began feeling like I’m swinging the membership fairly nicely. I stated to my caddie that if I can get again to 2 over for the primary spherical then you definitely by no means know.
“This afternoon I simply performed unbelievably and it might have been extra actually. I missed the primary two greens then after that it was 25 toes on each gap so I performed superior.
“Being from Nice Britain The Open is our dwelling main and the historical past of the occasion simply makes it unbelievable. Final 12 months was the most effective week of my life. I keep in mind leaving that week – I didn’t play nicely and was fairly disillusioned – and saying to my staff I wish to be again right here. The sensation that you simply get is one thing else.”
Connor McKinney
“To play in golf’s oldest championship as your first main and having grown up watching The Open – I’ve been to some watching all the good names coming by way of and having been to St Andrews a bunch – is fairly particular. It’s one thing I’ve all the time dreamed of. You don’t actually know when it’s going to occur I suppose. It’s a must to envision it nevertheless it’s a fairly surreal feeling to make sure.”
“It’s a double whammy. It’s not simple. I managed to scrape a adequate spherical within the Regional Qualifying after which hung in all day in the present day and obtained a number of putts and did what I needed to do.”
Graeme Robertson
“It’s a dream come true. I performed golf as an beginner to an excellent degree after which perhaps stopped it for six or seven years and labored full-time and didn’t play a variety of golf. I’m simply coming again to it so in case you had stated to me that 4 or 5 years in the past, once I was sitting behind a pc desk 7:30 to five, Monday to Friday, that I might be taking part in in The Open there’s no approach I might have believed it.
“It hasn’t fairly sunk in but nevertheless it feels good. I can’t watch for it to occur.”
Royal Cinque Ports (5 locations)
South African Martin Rohwer and Thomas Detry of Belgium every recorded rounds of 72 and 69 for a three-under-par whole of 141 to say the primary two qualifying positions at Royal Cinque Ports.
Rohwer, 29, will make his main championship debut in The 151st Open while Detry, 30, will make his third look.
Rohwer’s compatriots Branden Grace, who shot a report low spherical 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017, and Charl Shwartzel, whose finest efficiency in The Open got here at Royal Liverpool in 2014, additionally certified on two-under-par 142. Becoming a member of them is Antoine Rozner, who will play within the Championship for the second time after qualifying on the identical mark with two rounds of 71.
Martin Rohwer
“I don’t actually know easy methods to really feel. I’m going to The Open which has all the time been a dream.
“There have been a number of South Africans qualify in the present day and the extra South Africans in The Open, the higher. Each time a South African lifts the Claret Jug it does the nation proud.
“I’ve learnt to savour each second, particularly whenever you get alternatives like this. When you play nicely that’s a bonus, in case you don’t, nicely at the very least you might have loved one thing you might have dreamt about on your complete life.”
Branden Grace
“It feels superb to get again. I used to be gutted to overlook it final 12 months. Each Open is particular however an Open at St Andrews is superior.
“I really feel relieved. I’ve labored onerous and I’ve been taking part in nicely. I actually wished to qualify for the majors once more to see how I get on. I really feel like I’m prepared and this was the final hurdle I needed to recover from.
“I used to be all the time going to try to qualify for this one. When you might have the prospect to qualify for the most effective tournaments on the earth you’ll bounce on a airplane and you might be all the time going to do it.
“It was well worth the journey. I performed very well and I’m proud of how issues panned out.
“Hoylake is a tricky golf course. I can’t keep in mind an excessive amount of about it aside from the previous few holes however I do know it’s robust. Each Open venue is hard. It’s about hitting the fairways, hitting it on the greens and attempting to maintain bogeys off the scorecard.
“If I preserve taking part in the best way I’m taking part in I’ll be in with a shout.”
Antoine Rozner
“It feels unbelievable. It was a very robust day on the market. It was lengthy, it was exhausting. It’s a very good course right here at Cinque Ports. It challenges each a part of your recreation.
“I performed my first Open simply down the street at Royal St George’s two years in the past and to be again in Liverpool this 12 months goes to be very particular. It was a objective of mine this season to qualify for some majors.
“I didn’t handle to qualify for those earlier than so to qualify right here may be very gratifying and really rewarding.”
Charl Schwartzel
“It was good to qualify at this golf course as a result of I’ve obtained a little bit of historical past right here; I received the Brabazon right here [in 2002] and so they made me an honorary life member. I had some good reminiscences coming again and it was good to play nicely right here once more. Immediately’s an excellent day.
“Convey a world participant, The Open is large. I don’t wish to put one in entrance of the others however I really feel like The Open and Augusta go hand-in-hand by way of status.
“Hoylake was my finest Open efficiency [in 2014]. I keep in mind it being very dry. I don’t prefer to make excuses however once I can play with brief sleeves like I did for many of in the present day, I are inclined to swing the membership a lot better. I actually battle when it’s chilly and wet.
“2014 was dry and sizzling and I hope it’s related this 12 months as a result of I development to swing the membership higher in these circumstances.”
Royal Porthcawl (5 locations)
Laurie Canter led the qualifiers at Royal Porthcawl on an eight-under-par whole of 134, 4 pictures away from Brandon Robinson Thompson, who will make his debut in The Open after a primary spherical 66 set the inspiration for a second place end.
Matthew Southgate fired in a last-gasp birdie to seal the third qualifying place on two-under-par, which is able to see the Englishman return to the venue wherein he made his Open debut in 2014.
A play-off appeared seemingly however Oliver Bekker’s double bogey on the final meant that Jazz Janewattananond and Oliver Farr secured the 2 remaining qualifying spots on one-under-par.
Laurie Canter
“It’s nice to be again at The Open. I travelled again from Spain on Sunday, obtained dwelling at 1am within the morning, had six hours kip, noticed my daughter and drove down right here.
“There’s no different championship I might take into account that to try to qualify for. It’s the most important on the earth and for somebody like me, or anybody who has ambitions in golf, it’s the place you wish to be.
“I’ll put a bit of additional work in on the placing however the principle factor is to take pleasure in it. It’s a must to pinch your self and luxuriate in these moments, as an expert golfer, these are the most effective moments of your life.”
Brandon Robinson Thompson
“I putted superbly this morning, hit the ball in play just about in every single place and holed a variety of putts. It was good enjoyable on the market. I hit a few free pictures this afternoon with the climate coming in for 4 or 5 holes however I battled by way of it.
“To qualify for The Open is the most important achievement in my life. All I keep in mind about Hoylake is watching Tiger Woods hitting rippers round there to win. Taking part in right here at Royal Porthcawl is nice preparation in itself for the take a look at that lies forward.”
Matthew Southgate
“It was nice to make that birdie on the final. The rain got here in fairly sturdy after we had been developing 16. I used to be solely degree par and I hadn’t seen a leaderboard for that lengthy – however I knew it was getting more durable. Clearly had a terrific likelihood at 17 and obtained that. And down the final I believed if I might make 3 I would have the ability to get right into a play-off.
“I simply ripped my driver and hit such an excellent second shot in there and the putt was simply useless straight – 14 to fifteen toes up the hill. I simply thought ‘preserve your head straight and provides your self an opportunity’. I hit a terrific putt and it went proper down the center.
“That is my fifth Open now. I completed twelfth at Royal Troon and sixth at Royal Birkdale. It’s a championship I like greater than another. I’ve performed within the US Open and it doesn’t come near me.
“As a Brit, taking part in in The Open is a very particular factor. I’m glad Closing Qualifying has paid off and I’ve obtained the beginning at Hoylake, which is the place I performed my first one in 2014. Now I’ve a pleasant couple of weeks to arrange. I like hyperlinks golf, I do like Hoylake so hopefully I get a beneficial draw and can provide it a go.”
Jazz Janewattananond
“Sure, very comfortable to have certified. This can be my fourth Open and I’ve turn into actually keen on taking part in the hyperlinks programs. Royal Porthcawl is an incredible golf course to play and to qualify right here makes me love hyperlinks golf much more. I can’t wait to be again taking part in The Open.
“That is nice preparation for The Open. It’s similar to what we’ll play at Royal Liverpool. I’m so comfortable to have made it.”
Oliver Farr
“It’s nice to qualify in back-to-back years. Hollinwell was actually good final 12 months, I used to be in a distinct state of affairs the place I used to be fairly snug coming down the final and I used to be in. Immediately I used to be attempting to push for birdies to get into it. It was a distinct expertise however I’m simply glad to be taking part in in The Open once more.
“I performed higher than I scored at St Andrews final 12 months and hopefully I can be taught from that and do the issues I did to play nicely, whereas perhaps attempting to benefit from the expertise a bit extra. I used to be a bit too result-focused final 12 months, this time I simply wish to take pleasure in it.”
West Lancashire (5 locations)
Matt Wallace, Matthew Jordan, Kyle Barker, Alex Fitzpatrick and Tiger Christensen can be taking part in in The 151st Open after qualifying at West Lancashire.
Wallace led the best way on 11-under-par 133, with Jordan and Barker capturing ten-under-par and Fitzpatrick and Christensen a shot additional again on nine-under-par, three clear a pack of 5 gamers sat on six-under-par.
For Jordan, meaning a dream Open look at his dwelling membership the place he has been a member for the reason that age of seven.
Matt Wallace
“I wished to win this. I’ve been taking part in respectable in america. I understood I used to be one clear and nobody might catch me on the tee on the 18th and I performed it properly.
“It is a good confidence increase as a result of I used to be actually constant in the present day. It’s been an excellent 12 months and stepping into The Open, I wish to play nicely, as I might want to to be able to play within the Ryder Cup.
“That is the beginning. I must play in The Open and people huge occasions.”
Matthew Jordan
“It’s good, I used to be simply telling somebody over there that I’ve been a member at Royal Liverpool since I used to be seven. So it did matter greater than the earlier occasions I’ve tried to qualify, though it’s good, it has that sentimental worth.
“Weirdly each time I play this course it appears to essentially go well with me so once I noticed it was introduced I used to be actually happy.
“I’ve certified and I don’t wish to let this expertise go to waste now. It’s an additional occasion and I wish to be prepared for it and do nicely.”
Kyle Barker
“I really feel like I’m dreaming proper now. Actually, my coronary heart was in my throat for the complete again 9 and I’m so pleased with how I held it collectively.
“I noticed entries open for qualifying a few month or so in the past and so I believed ‘let’s see if I can provide it a go and get to the ultimate stage’. West Lancashire was my first choose and so to play nicely and to make it into The Open is a dream come true. That is my first time taking part in within the UK, I’ve by no means performed a hyperlinks course earlier than so the observe spherical was a little bit of a wake-up name however I’m ecstatic about the way it has turned out
“I keep in mind Louis Oosthuizen profitable The Open, on Nelson Mandela’s birthday as nicely. It was very, very particular after which clearly Ernie Els profitable too. I keep in mind Jordan Spieth in 2017 and all these superb gamers who’ve received The Open that I’ve appeared as much as all my life. That is the most important occasion in golf.”
Alex Fitzpatrick
“I couldn’t be happier to have certified. To play with my brother, Matt, in a serious can be superb. I’ve by no means performed in a single and I used to be asking individuals solely final week what it was prefer to play in a single, so it’s nice to have the ability to expertise it now.
“I do know Hoylake nicely and it was a terrific week there for the Walker Cup in 2019. I keep in mind it was windy, nevertheless it such a terrific expertise.
I don’t thoughts who I play with, simply to tee it up in The Open can be superb.”
Tiger Christensen (a)
“It feels superb to qualify for The Open. I’ve performed actually good golf during the last two weeks, particularly on the European Newbie the place I fell simply brief. It was good to see the putts drop in the present day although and play my approach into a serious championship.
“I keep in mind Rory profitable at Royal Liverpool and hitting a bunch of bombs. I’ll go there and determine a recreation plan. I’m lengthy off the tee so hopefully I could make that work for me.”
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