Matthew Jordan books spot at home club Royal Liverpool as DP World Tour players make it through Final Qualifying  

Matthew Jordan booked his place in the field for The 151st Open at his home club Royal Liverpool as he was joined by a host of fellow DP World Tour stars to progress through Final Qualifying.

Held across four links venues, 288 players were vying for 19 spots – increased from 16 this year – across 36 holes of golf for a coveted prize in golf’s oldest major championship. 

Five spots were on offer at West Lancashire, Royal Cinque Ports and Royal Porthcawl, while four were available at Dundonald Links, based on a strength of field calculation. 

Playing at West Lancashire, Jordan recorded a bogey-free seven-under 65 in the first round to hold the clubhouse lead, before a 69 on Tuesday afternoon was a good enough to finish in a share of second place at ten under. 

The Englishman, who played in the 2017 Walker Cup and has since won on the European Challenge Tour before progressing to the DP World Tour, has now qualified for The Open through Final Qualifying for the second consecutive year.

"Playing in front of the home crowds was brilliant today so I can't imagine what it will be like come two weeks time," said Jordan, who played alongside Sergio Garcia.

"It was great playing with Sergio. Obviously a great player, Masters champion, brilliant off the tee. He obviously brought more people along so I thoroughly enjoyed his company.

"I cannot wait to get there [Hoylake]."

Who made it through Open Final Qualifying?

Countryman and four-time DP World Tour Matt Wallace finished top of the pile at the classic links venue to secure his fourth appearance at The Open.

After opening with a 68, the 33-year-old, who won his first PGA TOUR title earlier this year, produced a 65 in the second round which included a run of four birdies in five holes on his back nine to reach 11 under for the day.

They were joined by Alex Fitzpatrick, who will join his Major-winning brother Matt, after he made a 65 in the second round to reach nine under and secure his first Major start following a 70 in the morning. It will be a welcome return to Royal Liverpool for Fitzpatrick, who played the Walker Cup there in 2019.

South Africa’s Kyle Barker finished at ten under alongside Jordan after rounds of 66 and 68, while German amateur Tiger Christensen can also look forward to sampling the experience of playing The Open after finishing at nine under, three shots better off than the next best-placed player.

At Royal Cinque Ports on the Kent coastline, there was success for Hero Cup duo Thomas Detry and Antoine Rozner

Detry, who made the trip having missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA TOUR last week, topped the standings alongside South Africa’s Martin Rohwer after matching three under 69s.

Rozner, who won his third DP World Tour title earlier this season in Mauritius, finished one shot further back after carding a pair of 71s.

South African Major winner Charl Schwartzel and compatriot Branden Grace rounded off the quintet of players to secure their exemptions at Royal Cinque Ports as they too finished at two under.

Over at Royal Porthcawl – host venue of this year’s Senior Open presented by Rolex – Matthew Southgate, who worked on last year's Open Championship on the radio, produced a birdie-birdie finish to his second round for a 68 to finish safely at two under as one of the five qualifiers.

Laurie Canter led the way as rounds of 69 and 65 saw the Englishman finish on eight under, four shots ahead of Brandon Robinson Thompson.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Wales' Oliver Farr also secured their spots at the final Major of the year by finishing at one under as South African Oliver Bekker missed out after a devastating triple-bogey on his final hole saw him finish at one over.

Scotland’s Michael Stewart was the victor at Dundonald Links, charging to the top of the leaderboard with a second-round 66 to reach seven under after opening with a 71.

That was a total that couldn’t be beaten as Challenge Tour member Marco Penge finished second after recovering from a 74 in the morning to post a best-of-the-day 65 at the Ayrshire venue and progress from Final Qualifying again, having achieved the feat at Holinwell last year.

The final two spots had to be settled by a play-off, with Australia’s Connor McKinney first to secure his qualification with a birdie at the second play-off hole before Graeme Robertson denied fellow Scot Craig Ross with a long birdie putt on the fifth play-off hole.