Singh set for Open bid next month

Former world number one Vijay Singh will compete at Sunningdale next month in a bid to qualify for the Open at Royal St George's.

The Fijian, who was joint runner-up the last time the tournament was held at the course in Sandwich, will be in the field at Sunningdale on June 6.

Singh, 48, is not exempt after falling outside the world's top 50 - he is currently 59th - and is part of a 96-strong field that also includes Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn.

It was Bjorn, of course, who led by three with four to play at Royal St George's in 2003, but he bogeyed the 15th, double-bogeyed the short 16th and dropped another shot on the next to lose by one - like Singh - to American Ben Curtis.

They will be competing for 10 places in this July's championship at the Kent links.

Singh could have entered the qualifier in Texas next Monday, but the closing date for that was two weeks ago.

The field there - 78 players battling for eight spots - includes Sergio Garcia, American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love and Londoner Brian Davis, but Chris DiMarco, runner-up to Tiger Woods at Hoylake in 2006, is presently only third reserve.