Star names slip though exemption net

ROLL up, roll up. Come and see some of your favourite golfers in a situation they have never faced before – because the situation has not existed before.

When the Royal and Ancient Club, organisers of the Open, decided to bring in a series of international qualifying competitions for next month's championship they could not have envisaged that such an array of stars would be involved.

But at Sunningdale next Monday 120 players, including three Major winners, 14 Ryder Cup team members and 50 tournament winners will be going for what is likely to be no more than 15 places in the starting line-up at Royal Troon.