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 should 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.

“Generally you are taking it with no consideration—you’re exempt, you flip up and play for a few years, however as you become older, issues get a bit more durable, so in some methods, it’s good to need to qualify as a result of it makes you respect The Open a bit extra and the way particular it’s,” Rose stated 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 newbie—atop the leaderboard. Mexican Abraham Ancer and Swede Charlie Lindh will be a part of these two gamers in The Open from Southwest England.

Picture by Luke Walker/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

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 did not 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

Novice 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 discipline. 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 significant championship, drained a 120-yard wedge shot for an eagle two on the par-4 ninth—his remaining gap of the day—to leap as much as 5-under general and e-book a ticket to Troon. Speak about clutch.

At 26 years outdated, Hidalgo has by no means gained on the DP World Tour, however he does have one victory to his identify on the Problem Tour—the European equal of the Korn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

Picture by Mark Runnacles/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

“The second shot was good distance. It was the primary time all day I had a full membership and at that kind of second. With nerves I desire to have a full membership. I didn’t see the ball go in however to be trustworthy I don’t care. I simply jumped and cried with my caddie, and we deserve it. We struggle loads. All this 12 months we’ve not likely had any luck so for it to lastly happen in The Open could be a very good reward.”

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

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

“I’m trying ahead to every part: the crowds, it being in Scotland, the Residence 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, combating 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 newbie 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 provides me goosebumps,” Smylie stated.

Picture by Tom Dulat/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

“The final time I went to The Open was at Royal Troon in 2016, once I was 14 years outdated. 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 watch for the expertise. I’ve already FaceTimed my dad, who’s again in Australia, and he stated 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 significant championship—Jamie Rutherford and Spanish newbie Luis Masaveu decided the ultimate spot from Royal Cinque Ports.

Masaveu gained with a birdie on the second additional gap, changing into the sixteenth newbie to clinch a spot on this 12 months’s Open discipline.

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 12 months in a row, the 2017 Masters champion got here up brief. He won’t make his a centesimal main championship begin; he’ll accomplish that at Augusta Nationwide subsequent April as an alternative.

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

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

“It’s the best second of my profession and every part that I’ve been working in direction of, though I ought to have most likely achieved it a 12 months earlier and performed at Royal Liverpool,” Dodd-Berry stated.

Picture by Jan Kruger/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

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

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

“I at all times say to everybody that The Open is my favourite main,” Horsfield stated.

“I’d by no means had that feeling earlier than, the one after they name your identify on the primary tee—that was the good expertise. I’m actually trying ahead to getting again and hopefully persevering with to play properly. These are the levels you need 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 By way of. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.