Swedes among Open qualifiers in America

American Spike McRoy and Swedes Carl Pettersson and Mathias Gronberg – all now playing on the USPGA Tour – were the leading lights at a poorly-attended 36-hole qualifier for next month’s Open at Royal Troon.

The three players toured the two championship courses at Congressional Country Club in the suburbs of Washington DC in nine-under 134, with Pettersson posting the low round of the day on either course when he shot eight-under 63 on the Gold.

The more difficult Blue course was used in the 1997 and 1964 US Opens and the 1976 PGA Championship.

The field was supposed to have started with 120 players, but only 68 arrived for their tee times, and only 64 completed play.

Royal & Ancient director Michael Tate said he was disappointed at the turnout, but that the R&A remains committed to having international qualifiers in the US and elsewhere in the future.

The happiest man on the premises was American Cameron Beckman, who earned the 15th and final spot available when he birdied two of his last three holes to shoot six-under 137. He played in the final group on the course and thought when he made bogey at the 36th hole he would have to join a play-off for the last remaining spot.

Instead, seven players in at five-under 136 played off for one of four alternate positions. Their chances of getting into the field next month are remote, because they can only replace a player who advanced through the Congressional qualifier.

Steve Elkington, the 1995 PGA Championship winner who was in a play-off for the championship in 2002 eventually won by Ernie Els, was in a group of four players in at eight-under 135 that also included Australian Rod Pampling.

In 1999 at Carnoustie, Pampling had the distinction of becoming the first man ever to lead the British Open after the first round, only to miss the cut after the second, when he shot 71-86.

“It will be nice to head back to the Open and see if I can end up in first at the end of the week, not the start of the week,” he said.

Englishman Luke Donald, now playing full-time on the American tour, also advanced to the Open, posting six-under 137 with a second round of 67.

Two former major champions who tired to qualify – Lee Janzen and Mark Brooks - failed to make it to Scotland. Brooks was one of four players who walked off the course after shooting a 39 on his opening nine holes.