Ian Poulter hit his first shot at St Andrews out of bounds yesterday, but still backed himself to win the Open Championship.

From next year final qualifying for the Open will be staged a week earlier and will be 36 holes in one day rather than spread over two.

Ryder Cup heroes Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley both failed to make it through US Open qualifying at Walton Heath in Surrey today.

Darren Clarke will be at Walton Heath on Monday week doing something he has not had to do since 1995 – taking part in a qualifying event for a major.

Twelve places in next week’s Open will be determined this weekend – and 384 players are fighting for them.