The Open: Justin Rose headlines 16 gamers who made it to Troon

Englishman Justin Rose will head again to The Open Championship at Royal Troon after carding an 8-under 134 at Burnham and Berrow—one of many 4 qualifying websites scattered throughout the British Isles.

It’ll mark Rose’s nineteenth look in golf’s oldest main, together with his finest end coming in 2018, when he tied for second at Carnoustie. The 2013 U.S. Open winner additionally performed at Royal Troon in 2016, tying for twenty second.

“Typically you are taking it without any consideration—you’re exempt, you flip up and play for a few years, however as you become older, issues get a bit of more durable, so in some methods, it’s good to must qualify as a result of it makes you respect The Open a bit of extra and the way particular it’s,” Rose mentioned after.

“Coming again to Burnham and Berrow was additionally particular—first time again right here since 1997. I used to be grateful to be again right here and stroll down reminiscence lane.”

Rose performed spectacularly, tying fellow Englishman Dominic Clemmons—an novice—atop the leaderboard. Mexican Abraham Ancer and Swede Charlie Lindh will be part of these two gamers in The Open from Southwest England.

Photograph by Luke Walker/R&A through Getty Photographs

Ancer, Lindh, and Indian Anirban Lahiri completed at 5-under, placing this trio in a 3-for-2 playoff to find out who would go to Royal Troon. However Lahiri didn’t make par on the primary additional gap, whereas the opposite two managed to take action, thus ending Lahiri’s bid of returning to The Open.

Miracles at Dundonald Hyperlinks

Beginner Jack MacDonald, who grew up minutes from Royal Troon, drained a 25-footer for birdie on the primary playoff gap to clinch a spot within the 152nd Open area. He defeated Swede Tim Widing, who has a pair of wins on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, and fellow Scotsman Daniel Younger.

However that was not the one magic produced at Dundonald on Tuesday.

Ángel Hidalgo, who hails from Spain and has by no means performed in a serious championship, drained a 120-yard wedge shot for an eagle two on the par-4 ninth—his ultimate gap of the day—to leap as much as 5-under general and e-book a ticket to Troon. Discuss clutch.

At 26 years previous, Hidalgo has by no means gained on the DP World Tour, however he does have one victory to his identify on the Problem Tour—the European equal of the Korn Ferry Tour.

“I’m nonetheless shaking,” Hidalgo mentioned of his miraculous shot.

Photograph by Mark Runnacles/R&A through Getty Photographs

“The second shot was good distance. It was the primary time all day I had a full membership and at that sort of second. With nerves I want to have a full membership. I didn’t see the ball go in however to be sincere I don’t care. I simply jumped and cried with my caddie, and we deserve it. We battle rather a lot. All this yr we’ve not likely had any luck so for it to lastly happen in The Open could be a extremely good reward.”

In the meantime, Englishman Sam Hutsby didn’t want any late miracles. He earned medalist honors at Dundonald because of a superb 8-under 136 over 36 holes. Hutsby completed three away from Hidalgo and Irish novice Liam Nolan, who hails from Galway on Eire’s west coast. It’ll mark Hutsby and Nolan’s first main look.

“It’s onerous to course of the truth that I’m going to The Open,” Nolan mentioned.

“I’m trying ahead to all the pieces: the crowds, it being in Scotland, the Dwelling of Golf, and, yeah, I simply can’t wait to go.”

Playoff at Royal Cinque Ports

Matthew Southgate set the tempo and gained medalist honors in Southeast England, preventing again tears after he made it to Royal Troon. However Royal Cinque Ports noticed loads of different drama unfold on Tuesday.

Australian Elvis Smylie and Spanish novice Jaime Montojo completed at 3-under par, thus reserving tickets to Ayrshire. However this serves as a full-circle second for Smylie, the left-hander from the Gold Coast.

“Simply saying that I’ve certified for The Open offers me goosebumps,” Smylie mentioned.

Photograph by Tom Dulat/R&A through Getty Photographs

“The final time I went to The Open was at Royal Troon in 2016, after I was 14 years previous. Going there as a spectator eight years in the past and now going again as a competitor—I don’t know what to say. I simply can’t await the expertise. I’ve already FaceTimed my dad, who’s again in Australia, and he mentioned he’ll e-book a flight over. My mum is already over right here commentating on Wimbledon, so everybody will come and watch me at Troon. I’m very excited.”

Each Smylie and Montojo will make their main debuts at Royal Troon.

A playoff between LIV Golf’s Branden Grace—the primary man to shoot a 62 in a serious championship—Jamie Rutherford and Spanish novice Luis Masaveu decided the ultimate spot from Royal Cinque Ports.

Masaveu gained with a birdie on the second additional gap, changing into the sixteenth novice to clinch a spot on this yr’s Open area.

Nonetheless, a notable identify didn’t qualify from Royal Cinque Ports: 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell. Thomas Detry additionally failed to complete among the many high 4.

West Lanchasire sends three Englishmen to Royal Troon

Sergio Garcia headlined the sphere at West Lancashire, and for the second yr in a row, the 2017 Masters champion got here up quick. He is not going to make his a hundredth main championship begin; he’ll achieve this at Augusta Nationwide subsequent April as an alternative.

So, with Garcia not making the minimize, West Lanchasire noticed two Englishmen end atop the leaderboard as an alternative: Sam Horsfield of LIV Golf and novice Matthew Dodd-Berry.

Horsfield and Dodd-Berry completed at 6-under par.

“It’s the best second of my profession and all the pieces that I’ve been working in direction of, regardless that I ought to have most likely executed it a yr earlier and performed at Royal Liverpool,” Dodd-Berry mentioned.

Photograph by Jan Kruger/R&A through Getty Photographs

“I’m actually excited to get to Troon.”

Horsfield can also be keen to move to Ayrshire for the 152nd Open.

“I all the time say to everybody that The Open is my favourite main,” Horsfield mentioned.

“I’d by no means had that feeling earlier than, the one once they name your identify on the primary tee—that was the best expertise. I’m actually trying ahead to getting again and hopefully persevering with to play effectively. These are the phases you wish to play on.”

Englishman Daniel Brown and Japan’s Misahiro Kawamura completed their 36 holes one stroke behind Horsfield and Dodd-Berry at 5-under, thus rounding out the 4 spots awarded at West Lancashire.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.