The Montrose Pro-Am, a shift in the West Linton professional's shop, a day out with his wife – Gareth Wright had a few options as to how he could have spent yesterday but playing in The Open Championship wasn't a bad way to fill a few hours.

His wife will have been happy too. Simply by qualifying for the closing 36 holes of the game's most decorated Major, her husband was guaranteed to pick up least £12,000.

Wright earned about £1000 more than that in a whole season on the Tartan Tour last year so it hasn't been a bad weekend's work. A 10-strong tartan army began the 142nd championship and Wright has been the "11th Scot" in the field: a Welshman based in Edinburgh who helped Scotland to victory in the PGA of Europe Team Championship at the end of 2012.

"I'm as close to Scottish as you are going to get," the 31-year-old said with a smile. His stepfather, Ian, coached Sandy Lyle for a spell and Wright has been able to tap into the experience of the former champion during his Major debut at Muirfield.

"Sandy sought me out on Friday when he was finished," Wright added. "When a two-time Major champion comes to you to give you tips, you tend to listen."

After a third-round 80 that left him joint last, it could have been Sandy who was looking for some tips yesterday. Wright, who began his campaign on Thursday with a fine level-par 71, posted a four-over-par 75 in round three for an 11-over 224 total. It has been a stern examination for the Tartan Tour campaigner, whose playing opportunities are limited due to his work commitments as a club pro.

He is also more used to 18-hole shoot-outs on the domestic PGA circuit, but the big-hitting Wright has revelled in The Open occasion. As a former Challenge Tour player, who also enjoyed an impressive stint as an amateur before joining the paid ranks, Wright had ambitions of making it on to the main European circuit. His decision to go down the club professionals route was born out of misfortune. "I was on holiday at the time and we were leaving the room when I noticed a window was open," recalled Wright, who won the British Club Professionals' Championship last season and played in May's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

"I went to close it and the pane just fell out. It was heading straight for my face, so I stuck my hand up and it got slashed. I didn't play golf for a while and didn't know if it was going to heal properly. It ended up taking four months, and I had decided I was going to do my PGA training by then."

The golfing gods can work in mysterious ways but they looked down favourably on Wright last month when he earned his Muirfield place in local qualifying after his play-off rival for the final spot, David Higgins, was disqualified for having 15 clubs in the bag. "Every little boy who wants to be a professional dreams of playing Majors and I've done that," added Wright.

As for the "real" Scots, Paul Lawrie continued his climb back up the leaderboard with one-under 70 for a seven-over total of 220. The 1999 champion, who was up against it after an opening 81, had thundered back up the road to Aberdeen on Friday after completing a second round 69 in the belief that he would miss the halfway cut. Of course, the qualifying mark ballooned as the day dragged on and Lawrie squeezed in, returning to his Gullane hotel around 11.30pm to grab some sleep before teeing off again.

It could have been worse. Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, another who had written off all hope of making the weekend, got all the way to Heathrow airport, before turning round.

Stephen Gallacher's third round unravelled on the punishing closing stretch as he leaked six shots on his last six holes to card five-over 76 for 222. He was joined on that mark by Richie Ramsay, another last-gasp cut survivor, who added a 72 to his tally yesterday.