Local knowledge not enough as McGinley misses out on Open

PAUL McGINLEY was nicely positioned to make local knowledge pay when he stood four under par through 27 holes in yesterday’s final qualifying round for the British Open at Sunningdale.

But his chance to get among the 10 players who go through to the championship at Royal St Georges, Sandwich, in July disappeared when he ran up double bogeys at the 10th and 12th.

A birdie at the long 14th was too little, too late to keep the Dubliner’s prospects alive.

McGinley shot rounds of 68 and 69 to finish three under over the two Sunningdale courses which are located alongside his home. He only got into the qualifier in the first place when another Dubliner, Peter Lawrie, withdrew over the weekend after his wife, Philippa, gave birth to their fourth child and first son.

Having failed to make the cut in the Wales Open at the weekend, there was further disappointment for Shane Lowry when rounds of 71 and 70 left him well outside the top 10. However, the big Offaly man has the major consolation of qualifying a couple of weeks ago for the US Open, beginning at Congressional Country Club near Washington on Thursday week.

Gareth Maybin, who was married last week, and Michael Hoey, recent winner of the Madeira Island Open, withdrew without completing 36 holes.