Eighty-seven hopefuls will head to Walton Heath Golf Club for the US Open Championship Qualifier on Monday, when up to 12 places will be available for the second Major Championship of the year.
Perhaps the most high-profile two-ball chasing a place in the field at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, America, is made up of Europe’s Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie and three-time European Tour champion Søren Kjeldsen of Denmark, who tee off together at 9.10am.
Should Montgomerie qualify for this year’s US Open Championship, which takes place from June 16-19, it would mark his 17th appearance in the event.
The Scot, a winner of 31 European Tour titles, has finished runner-up on three occasions, including in 1994, when he and American Loren Roberts lost out in a play-off to South African Ernie Els. He also finished second to Els at Congressional in 1997.
Montgomerie will certainly arrive at Walton Heath with a spring in his step after an impressive three under par closing 68 at Wentworth Club to finish at one under par 283 in the BMW PGA Championship.
Of the 11 players who qualified last year, seven return to Walton Heath Golf Club to try to earn their places again.
Finland’s Mikko Ilonen, Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg and Spaniard Pablo Martin all came through a five-man play-off to book their spots in last year’s showpiece, and the trio will hope to repeat the feat 12 months on.
The same goes for Argentina’s Rafael Echenique (who finished second), England’s Gary Boyd, Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Wales’ Rhys Davies (all tied third), all of whom ensured a more comfortable passage through the two-round qualifier.
Cabrera-Bello made the most of his maiden Major appearance, ending the first day one stroke off the lead before eventually finishing in a tie for 47th place; whilst runner-up Grégory Havret of France came within one shot of emulating the achievement of New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, who came through qualifying and duly won the 2005 US Open Championship.
Other notable names in this year’s field include South African George Coetzee, who heads to Surrey on the back of a runner-up finish on his native Sunshine Tour, and in-form Scot Scott Jamieson, who topped the recent re-rank thanks chiefly to five top 12 finishes in his rookie European Tour season.
England’s Simon Khan will be hoping for better fortunes this year, having missed out in the play-off for the final place 12 months ago, one day after his BMW PGA Championship triumph just a few miles down the road at Wentworth Club.
The number of qualifying spots available this year will be between nine and 12, depending on the size and strength of the final field.
Walton Heath will, of course, be experiencing more top class golf in July with the Senior Open Championship from July 21-24. For tickets, click
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