Colin Montgomerie will return to the Open Championship for the first time since 2010 after coming through the 36-hole final qualifier at Gailes Links in Ayrshire last night.
The 53-year-old finished with a five-under aggregate of 137 and grabbed one of the three Open tee-times on offer for next month’s showpiece at Royal Troon behind Sweden’s Oskar Arvidsson and Scott Fernandez of Spain.
Montgomerie, who is an honorary member at the Open’s host venue, had to wait for almost two hours before discovering his fate as the two-round shoot-out drew to a tense conclusion.
His Open place was finally confirmed in the penultimate match when his compatriot Jack Doherty, who is attached to the Rowallan Castle course which Monty designed, failed to make the birdie he needed on the last hole to force a play-off.
Montgomerie, the eight-time European No ! who now plays on the Senior Tour, is now relishing the prospect of a return to Royal Troon where his father, James, was secretary for a spell.
“They say it's golf's longest day, but it's been worth it,” he said. “This is very special. I'll be enjoying every minute of it at Royal Troon. This was my last chance to play in the Open at Troon. The next time it comes around I'll be 65 and I won't be allowed to play. My qualifying days are behind me after this."
Meanwhile, the domino effect of Olympic golf withdrawals continued yesterday as Jason Day, the world No 1, and Irishman Shane Lowry both pulled out because of concerns over the Zika virus.
Day, echoing four-time major winner Rory McIlroy who also withdrew last week, cited worries over health risks to his family for the decision.
"Medical experts have confirmed that while perhaps slight, a decision to compete in Rio absolutely comes with health risks to me and to my family," he said.
Lowry said he felt he would be putting his future family plans at risk and based his decision on “firm medical advice”.
He added: “I've not taken the decision lightly and it has been a source of much anguish for me over the past week.
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