Irish join the charge for 12 Open tickets

Seven Irishmen will pursue their Open Championship dream by joining the scramble for 12 golden tickets for Hoylake at four Final Qualifying venues today.

But another eight Irish tour players have opted to make the €3m Alstom Open de France their priority rather tee it up at Sunningdale New, Gailes Links, Hillside and Woburn with just three spots on offer at each of the four Final Qualifying venues.

Ireland will have at least five men at Royal Liverpool in a fortnight with the exempt Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington joined by Shane Lowry on Sunday after the Offaly man sealed his place via the Race to Dubai standings.