Regional qualifying for the 152nd Open at Royal Troon took place across 15 UK venues on Monday.
A total of 100 places in final qualifying for the fourth Major of the year were up for grabs, and some familiar names have made it through to the 2 July decider, including two-time DP World Tour winner Robert Rock.
The popular Englishman made headlines in May when he came through final qualifying for the US Open despite having retired from professional golf 18 months earlier.
He impressed in the opening round of the Pinehurst No.2 Major, too, heading into Friday’s action in T16 after his level par 70. He couldn’t sustain his momentum, and eventually missed the cut, but undeterred, he now has an excellent opportunity to make another Major appearance.
The 47-year-old was appearing at Kedleston Park, and didn’t disappoint, with a three-under 67 leaving him T3 and making it to final qualifying.
He was far from the only recognizable name to keep his chances of qualifying for The Open alive.
Challenge Tour professional Jack Floydd reached the 150th Open at St Andrews after coming through final qualifying, and he gets the chance to appear again by the same route this year after finishing T3 at five under at Bearwood Lakes.
He’ll be joined by fellow Englishman Sam Forgan, who played in the 2021 edition of the Major. Forgan qualified three years ago, with fans able to chart his progress via the Road To The Open YouTube series.
Sam Forgan could be back at The Open three years after saying he was considering retirement
(Image credit: Getty Images)
He eventually missed the cut at Royal St George’s, but not before fans had taken him to their hearts. After his adventure ended, Forgan admitted he was considering retirement, but he now has a chance of another appearance at the Major after making it through to final qualifying after five playoff holes at Frilford Heath.
Jonathan Thomson finished T53 at the 2021 Open in a performance that included a hole-in-one, and his hopes of another appearance at the Major are intact after his two-under 68 at the same venue that saw Rock reach final qualifying, Kedleston Park.
Another noticeable name to make it through to final qualifying was South African former World No.42 Justin Harding. The two-time DP World Tour winner and former LIV golfer is…
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