Justin Rose qualifies for The Open; see who else made it to Royal Troon

Britain’s Justin Rose will play again in the British Open at Royal Troon after shooting eight-under 134 at Burnham and Bellew, one of four qualifying venues scattered across the British Isles.

This will be Rose’s 19th appearance at golf’s oldest major tournament, with his best result being a tie for second at Carnoustie in 2018. The 2013 U.S. Open champion also played at Royal Troon in 2016, finishing tied for 22nd.

“Sometimes you take it for granted that you get exemptions and you go in and play for years, but as you get older things get a little bit harder, so in a way it’s good to qualify because it gives you a little bit of an appreciation for the British Open and how special it is,” Rose said after the match.

“It was also special to come back to Burnham & Berrow – my first time back since 1997. It was great to be back here and take a walk down memory lane.”

Rose played well and is joint first in the standings with fellow British amateur Dominic Clemons, who will join Mexico’s Abraham Ansell and Sweden’s Charlie Lind in the British Open finals as they compete from the southwest of England.

Ansell, Lind and India’s Anirban Lahiri finished at five under par, sending the trio into a two-on-three playoff to decide the place at Royal Troon, but while Lahiri couldn’t make par on the first extra hole, the other two managed to, ending Lahiri’s hopes of returning to the British Open.

The Miracle of Dundonald Links

Amateur Jack McDonald, who grew up just minutes from Royal Troon, drilled a 25-foot birdie on the first hole of the playoff to qualify for the 152nd British Open. He beat Swede Tim Widing, who has two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, and fellow Scotsman Daniel Young.

But that wasn’t the only magic that happened at Dundonald on Tuesday.

Angel Hidalgo, from Spain, who had never played in a major tournament, sank a 120-yard wedge shot on the final hole of the day, the par-4 ninth, for eagle 2, moving to five under par and earning a ticket to Troon. It was a game of chance.

The 26-year-old Hidalgo is yet to win on the DP World Tour but has one win on the Challenge Tour, Europe’s equivalent of the Korn Ferry Tour.

“I’m still shaking,” Hidalgo said of the miraculous shot.

Photo by Mark Runnacles/R&A via Getty Images

“The distance on my second shot was perfect. It was the first time today I hit it with a full club and it was one of those moments. When you’re nervous it’s better to hit it with a full club. I didn’t see the ball go in but I honestly don’t care. My caddie and I jumped up and cried. We deserved to win. We’ve competed well. We’ve had no luck this year at all so it would be a really nice present to finally win the British Open.”

Meanwhile, Englishman Sam Hatsby didn’t need a late miracle as he posted a brilliant 36-hole score of 8-under 136 to claim medalist honours at Dundonald. Hatsby won by three strokes over Hidalgo and Liam Nolan, an Irish amateur from Galway on the west coast of Ireland. This was the first major tournament appearance for both Hatsby and Nolan.

“The fact that I’m going to be at the British Open is hard to accept,” Nolan said.

“I’m looking forward to everything, including the large crowds and the fact that it’s being held in Scotland, the birthplace of golf. I just can’t wait to go.”

Playoffs at Royal Sink Port

Matthew Southgate fought back tears after arriving at Royal Troon as he led the South East England side to claim medallist honours, but there was plenty of other drama unfolding at Royal Sink Port on Tuesday.

Australian Elvis Smiley and Spanish amateur Jaime Montojo finished at three under par to book their spots in Ayrshire, but for the Gold Coast left-hander it was a full-circle victory.

“Just saying I’ve qualified for the British Open gives me goosebumps,” Smiley said.

Photo by Tom Dulat/R&A via Getty Images

“I last went to the British Open at Royal Troon in 2016 when I was 14. Eight years ago I was there as a spectator and now I’m coming back as a player – I just can’t wait. I’ve FaceTimed my dad in Australia and he’s booking a flight. My mum is already here commentating on Wimbledon so everyone will be at Troon to watch. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Both Smiley and Montojo would be making their major league debuts with Royal Troon.

A playoff between LIV Golf’s Branden Grace, the first man to shoot 62 in a major championship, Jamie Rutherford and Spanish amateur Luis Massabeu decided the final spot at Royal Cinque Ports.

Massabeu won with a birdie on the second extra hole to become the 16th amateur to qualify for this year’s Open.

However, several notable players from Royal Sink Port failed to make the cut, including 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, and Thomas Detry, who also failed to finish in the top four.

West Launceston sends three Britons to Royal Troon

Sergio Garcia took the top spot in West Lancashire but the 2017 Masters winner missed out on a second consecutive victory and will not play his 100th major championship, instead playing at Augusta National next April.

With Garcia failing to qualify, two Britons topped the leaderboard at West Launcescia – LIV Golf’s Sam Horsfield and amateur Matthew Dodd Berry.

Horsfield and Dodd Berry finished at six under par.

“This is the best moment in my career and everything I’ve strived for, although I probably should have done it a year ago and played for Royal Liverpool,” Dodd-Bury said.

Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A via Getty Images

“I’m really looking forward to going to Troon.”

Horsfield is also keen to head to Ayrshire for the 152nd British Open.

“I always tell people the British Open is my favourite major tournament,” Horsfield said.

“That feeling when they call your name on the first tee is something I’ve never experienced before. It was a really cool experience. I’m really looking forward to playing again and hopefully continuing to play well. I want to play on these stages.”

Britain’s Daniel Brown and Japan’s Misahiro Kawamura finished 36 holes at five under par, one stroke behind Horsfield and Dodd Berry, to round out the four spots available in West Lancashire.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.