The field for The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale was completed in dramatic fashion on Tuesday as 20 players secured their places through Final Qualifying at four demanding links venues across England and Scotland.
A total of 288 players teed it up over 36 holes at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire, with just five places available at each venue. As expected, changing weather conditions, testing links layouts and intense pressure combined to produce a memorable day of golf.
SKOGEN’S THE REAL DEAL
Among the standout performers were Norway’s Baard Bjoernevik Skogen and South Africa’s MJ Daffue, who both finished on 12-under par at Royal Cinque Ports to top the qualifiers at Deal. World No.771 Skogen produced one of the stories of the day, making just a single bogey over 36 holes to earn his first appearance in golf’s oldest major, while Daffue fired back-to-back eagles during an outstanding second-round 65.
Royal Cinque Ports also saw England’s Matthew Southgate qualify for The Open for a remarkable sixth time. Southgate, who famously finished tied sixth when The Open was last held at Royal Birkdale in 2017, was joined by American Peter Uihlein and Frenchman Antoine Rozner.
At Burnham & Berrow, American James Nicholas led the way with a superb 10-under-par total after rounds of 65 and 67 despite battling rapidly changing conditions throughout the day. Fellow American Caleb Surratt also earned his Open debut, while England’s Tom Sloman, Spanish amateur Alejandro De Castro Piera and American Austen Truslow completed the qualifiers from Somerset.
MCDONALD ON TOP AT DUNDONALD
Dundonald produced another impressive display from Scotland’s Jack McDonald, who repeated his qualifying success at the Ayrshire venue from two years ago to secure a second Open appearance. Matthew Baldwin, who is a member at Royal Birkdale, booked a place at his home Open after shooting rounds of 67 and 71, while Irish amateur David Howard, Dutch amateur Nevill Ruiter and American Marcus Plunkett also advanced to Royal Birkdale.
Speaking about teeing it up at Birkdale, Baldwin said: “It will be the dream, amazing. I can imagine it will be nerve-wracking. but it will also be incredible. To have all my best friends, my family, my wife, everyone who means something to me there will be amazing.”
West Lancashire provided one of the day’s most dramatic finishes. Sheffield’s Sam Bairstow claimed the top qualifying spot on 10-under par, with New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, Germany’s Tiger Christensen and Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester Barrio also progressing comfortably. The final qualification place was decided in a play-off, where Matthew Jordan delighted local supporters by birdieing the second extra hole to edge out Joe Dean and amateur Sam Easterbrook.
Visit TheOpen.com for full results from Final Quyalifying.
Read the full article here