David Law revealed it was a "dream come true" to be making his Major Championship debut at St Andrews after he secured one of three places available for The 150th Open Championship at the 2022 Horizon Irish Open.
The top three players not already exempt at Mount Juliet Estate earned their places in the field at the Home of Golf and with winner Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox and Thriston Lawrence having already secured their spots, it was Law, John Catlin and Fabrizio Zanotti who were left celebrating.
Law's presence in the final Major of the season will be a huge boost to the local crowds, with the 2019 ISPS Handa Vic Open champion joining fellow Scots Paul Lawrie and Robert MacIntyre in the field.
"It’s a dream come true," he said. "I chose not to go to Final Qualifying last week so I could focus on this event and so now that getting a place has happened, I’m over the moon.
“I knew what was on the line for the putt on 18. I had a good look at the leaderboard and knew I was in with a chance as the other players ahead of me were exempt.
“Playing in front of those crowds is going to be amazing. I’ve never played a Major before so do it at St Andrews for the first time will be unbelievable.”
Paraguayan Zanotti produced a big finish to punch his ticket, birdieing the 15th, 17th and last, and will now make is third Open appearance after missing the cut in 2017 and 2018.
“I feel great after that finish and really happy that I’m going to The Open at St Andrews," he said. "I knew that I needed a birdie on 18 to get there so it made it all the more special when I holed it. I just needed to hit it well and I did.
“Playing in The Open at St Andrews is something every player dreams of so I’m so happy that I’ve made it.”
Catlin will be making a second consecutive appearance at The Open and was relishing the challenge of links golf after surviving a bogey on the last.
“I feel relieved, first of all," he said. "I thought I was going to miss that last putt which would have cost me a spot. When I found out I was in The Open, it was a lot of weight off my shoulders.
“I can’t wait to play. I said last year after playing in The Open that I really wanted to get back there. It’s such an amazing atmosphere, the fans are second to none. You could have thousands of fans surrounding a tee, don’t hear a thing but when you hit a good shot they just erupt. I’m looking forward to that for sure.
“I think the cool thing about links golf is that suddenly the ground is your friend. When you play parkland courses, you just fly it to the hole, but in links golf creativity becomes really important and is a big part of it. I love that challenge.”
