Final Qualifying Sends Some Incredible Longshots To Portrush
Twenty diverse stories from all ages and career backgrounds now head to The Open at Royal Portrush. Also, it seems the HotelPlanner Tour is where the world's next best are toiling.
Another Open Final Qualifying, another 36-hole day of you-can’t-make-it-up stories:
Not one, but two sophomores from the University of North Carolina Charlotte qualified for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.
A qualifier is dating the 2011 Women’s Amateur winner. She won her Amateur at the same course where he’s now going to play in his first Open.
A 45-year-old journeyman last appeared in the 2014 Open but had been staring at a framed flag from that special week eleven years ago while dreaming of returning in 2025. He won his qualifier.
A former World No. 1 who first (and last) played Final Qualifying in 1995, returns to Portrush where he finished fourth six years ago.
The 1009th ranked…amateur in the world made it.
Estonia’s first-ever Open Championship berth happened after a dramatic hole-out.
About half the HotelPlanner Tour got through to Portrush. Okay, maybe not half, but twice as many as LIVsters who qualified (6 vs. 3 by my count).
If you’re just too busy to read on, at least acknowledge the players who are headed to The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush after surviving Tuesday’s play at four locations:
Justin Walters, Jacob Skov Olesen, Harry Hall, Frazer Jones and OJ Farrell qualified at Burnham & Berrow.
Lee Westwood, Daniel Young, Angel Hidalgo, Jesper Sandborg and Connor Graham qualified at Dundonald Links.
Dean Burmester, Nathan Kimsey, Curtis Knipes, Sebastian Cave and John Axelsen qualified at Royal Cinque Ports.
Lucas Herbert, Sampson Zheng, George Bloor, Richard Teder and Oliver Lindell qualified at West Lancashire.
Below are recaps from the locations and a little bit about each venue graciously hosting these special days.