Big names battle to reach Open at Portrush

Lee Westwood, Gavin Tiernan, as well as Graeme McDowell bidding to qualify

The Claret Jug at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

A host of big names will tee it up across four venues at Final Qualifying on Tuesday, all bidding for a chance to play in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Two major champions, a former world number one, several Ryder Cup heroes and a popular YouTuber will take part in 36-hole strokeplay events at Burnham and Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, and West Lancashire, with five qualifying places at Royal Portrush available at each.

Dundonald Links will welcome a former world number one in Lee Westwood, Ryder Cup player Jamie Donaldson, Gavin Tiernan from Co Louth, the recent runner-up at the Amateur Championship, as well as Peter Finch, who has almost 750,000 followers on YouTube.

Royal Cinque Ports plays host to father and son Ian and Luke Poulter, along with former US Open champion and Portrush native Graeme McDowell.

West Lancashire will host former Masters champion Danny Willett, along with a number of Irish competitors, including DP World Tour player Conor Purcell, while Burnham and Berrow will welcome Chris Wood, who has enjoyed T3 and T5 finishes at The Open, and last year’s Amateur Championship winner Jakob Skov Olesen.