Webster puts down US Open marker

England’s Steve Webster was halfway towards booking himself a US Open debut next week when he fired a four-under-par 68 in the 36-hole European qualifier at Walton Heath today.

Last year Webster missed out by one while partnering Michael Campbell, whose closing birdie squeezed him into the field for Pinehurst and led, of course, to his capturing his first major title.

There were 47 players chasing eight spots at Winged Foot this time and Webster’s seven-birdie round gave him an early two-shot lead over Dane Soren Kjeldsen, one of those who made it through a year ago.

“It could have been even better – I missed four putts from four feet,” said Webster. “Last year I missed from six feet on the last and Michael holed from four to get in. It was just one shot, but it made all the difference.”

Robert Karlsson and Paul Broadhurst, first and second in the Wales Open at the weekend and ninth and eighth respectively in the Ryder Cup race, were also in the field.