Oldcorn angry over Open qualifying
Andrew Oldcorn, furious after being denied a place in next month’s British Open by a change of rule, has now vented his anger over the new qualification system for the championship.
Oldcorn has decided not to play in tomorrow’s 36-hole qualifier at Sunningdale because, he says, “the idea that they have made it easier for Tour players is nonsense”.
There are 120 players battling for 15 places, including more than 50 tournament winners. Among them are Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal and Justin Rose.
The 44-year-old Bolton-born Scot won a five-year exemption into the Open when he captured the 2001 Volvo PGA Championship, but that was reduced to three when the Royal and Ancient Club decided to bring in a series of international qualifying competitions.
Oldcorn said: “They didn’t have the decency to write – I found out about it last November only by reading the entry form. It’s history now, but I was extremely annoyed.
“The Open is massive, the biggest event of the year. Plus it’s in Scotland this year.”
Royal Troon stages the event on July 15-18.
It was not only the quality of the opposition that made Oldcorn reject Sunningdale.
“When you’re playing in the French Open and then going to Ireland fo the European Open it’s an absolute grind, making you play 36 holes on the Monday in between,” he added.
“It’ll be interesting to see how many of those who have played four rounds in France make it through.”
He could yet be at Troon, but for that to happen he has to be the leading non-exempt player at the European Open or the Scottish Open or, if he misses the cut at Loch Lomond, he will have to grab one of the few spots available at the final qualifying event.
Jesper Parnevik is another of the stars on view tomorrow and it is a chance for him to impress Ryder Cup captain Langer because they have been paired together for the two rounds.
Montgomerie, who missed his first major since 1991 when he failed to earn an exemption for the US Open, is now in danger of missing his first Open since 1989, while Woosnam has not missed one since 1981 – he survived final qualifying in a play-off last year – and Langer since 1979.
For Rose it would be a huge blow to his hopes of making a Ryder Cup debut in September.
There is also qualifying in Washington, where the field includes England’s Luke Donald and John Morgan, German Alex Cejka and American Jeff Maggert, third in the US Open.
If anyone wants to watch all the action at Sunningdale they will have to set their alarms early and be prepared to stay late. The first tee-off time is 6.30am, the last one in the second round is 4.11pm – and there is likely to be a play-off afterwards.
