Browne shoots 59 to earn US Open ticket

OLIN BROWNE fired a spectacular 59 to grab one of the final spots in the US Open - after almost withdrawing from the qualifying tournament in Maryland.

After an opening 73, the US Tour player asked about the protocol for scratching, but then reconsidered and returned after the overnight rain delay to finish birdie-eagle-eagle for one of the 21 spots on offer.

Yet it was not even the course record - five years ago Shigeki Maruyama had a 58, also in US Open qualifying and nor will it go into the PGA Tour record books because it does not count as an official event.