Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Matteo Manassero failed to qualify for British Open

[TN94z]

A couple of big names here didn't make it to the British says golf.com :

Quote:

James Morrison earned his first trip to the British Open as the medalist Monday among 10 players who qualified at Sunningdale.

Morrison had rounds of 63 and 68 in the International Final Qualifying for Europe.

He was joined by Sam Walker, Jamie Donaldson, Alejandro Canizares, Marcus Fraser, Richard Finch, Ross Fisher and Matthew Baldwin. The final spots went to Thorbjorn Olesen and Lee Slattery, who survived a playoff among five players for two spots.

Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Matteo Manassero failed to qualify.

The British Open will be played July 19-22 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

[brocks]

Does that close them out, or can they still get special invitations? I don't know about MM, but surely Monty and JMO should be invited for their body of work.

[Wansteadimp]

Originally Posted by brocks

Does that close them out, or can they still get special invitations? I don't know about MM, but surely Monty and JMO should be invited for their body of work.

They're done, Tour Pros can enter directly to Final Local Qualifying, but not if they have already had a go at International Qualifying, they failed the Euro leg of this on Monday.

Drop outs will be replaced off the reserve list from the various qualifying events.

I can't agree that Monty & Olly deserve a chance, it's about finding the best golfer (or as the title says "Champion Golfer of the Year"), these aren't marginal golfers who have missed out by some quirk of the rankings system, they are formerly great golfers who are a shadow of their former selves now. The Open and the other majors should be about the best players competing, not a trip down memory lane unless we are talking about true greats of the game, Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson etc.

If anything I can see a better case being made for Manassero, akin to what the Masters does with Ryo, Manassaro is a reasonable outside bet to win, but I think the Masters gets that wrong and I don't think the Open should go there.

[luu5]

I know some people who failed the IFQ can still get in by being in top5 in either of the next two ET events. Not sure about the three amigos mentioned.