IFQ European & American results for the 137th Open Championship

Ryder Cup veteran Peter Baker and former USPGA winner Davis Love III were two of the big names to qualify for the Open Championship at Birkdale. Fellow Major winner Rich Beem and 2008 PGA Tour winner Paul Goydos joined Love, while double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal missed out in a play-off at Sunningdale

By Golf Monthly

published 1 July 2008

IFQ EUROPE QUALIFIERS

Simon Dyson and Peter Baker survived a six-man play-off, yesterday evening, for the last two qualifying places at IFQ - Europe, held at Sunningdale Golf Club. They have qualified to play in the 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, 13 20 July 2008.

Alongside the English duo in the play-off were Ross McGowan and Chris Rodgers, also of England, Alastair Forsyth, of Scotland, and Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain. Forsyth and McGowan were both knocked out at the first extra hole after failing to get up and down, and Rodgers went at the next with a bogey. On the third hole, Olazabal drove into the rough with a 5-wood and was forced to lay up, eventually playing his third from behind where Dyson's drive had finished. Baker was also safely on in two, leaving Olazabal a 20ft putt to keep his hopes of qualification alive, a putt which he left short.

Dyson was relieved to have made it, having got to six under par with three holes left of regular play before dropping two shots to end up in the play-off. But he hit his drive to within 70 yards of the green on the final play-off hole and hit a wedge to six feet, two putting for his par and a place at this year s Open Championship. I m thrilled really. I played really well and just had the wind change on me a couple of times in the last few holes. I can t wait to get there. I have some friends up Southport way so maybe one of them will offer me a bed.

Though he s never played the Open venue, he has strong memories of watching Ian Baker-Finch winning the 1991 Open at the venue. "At the time I d lost interest in the game and was too busy climbing conker trees and not playing golf," said Wakefield. "But my mum and dad took me along there to try and inspire me to get back into the game."

Also with a total of 135 was 2007 Walker Cup player David Horsey made it through to The Open with fine rounds of 68 and 67. Horsey credited his recent win on the Challenge Tour with giving him the confidence he needed to play so well "winning a few weeks ago really kickstarted things for me," he said. I m really looking forward to The Open. It s been a steady progression for me through county golf and then Walker Cup and now The Open. It s what you dream about.

Other automatic qualifiers on 135 were the English quartet of Paul Waring, Anthony Wall, Steve Webster and Phil Archer, Austria's Martin Wiegele, Sweden's Pelle Edberg, Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima and South Africa's Thomas Aiken.

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