Open lift for Levet

Levet: unexpected Open chance

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Thomas Levet has been handed a place in this week's Open Championship after American Brett Quigley opted not to take up his invitation.

Five weeks ago Levet was disqualified from the qualifying competition for signing for a wrong score at Sunningdale.

There are also are five players ahead of him on the rankings - Australian Aaron Baddeley and Americans Fred Couples, Pat Perez, Kevin Na and Mark Wilson - who would have taken Quigley's place if they had either entered for The Open or not withdrawn from qualifying events.

But last week saw four withdrawals from the tournament at Turnberry - Phil Mickelson, Trevor Immelman, Robert Karlsson and Tim Wilkinson - meaning Levet moved up to first reserve.

His chance to play then arrived when Quigley declined the chance to play that he earned by finishing runner-up at vthe PGA Tour's John Deere Classic over the weekend.

"That's cool - and I think I've got a chance," stated a clearly delighted Levet who seven years ago lost a five-hole play-off with Ernie Els at Muirfield.

"I'm playing well and I hit the ball low, which you need to do at the British."

Levet will play alongside Swede Richard S Johnson and Kevin Sutherland of America for the first two rounds in Scotland.

Quigley declines invite

Quigley declined the invite as he intends to attend a memorial service on Tuesday for the wife of fellow US Tour player Chris Smith who was killed in a car crash three weeks ago.

"My heart is not into playing the British," Quigley explained. "I know I'll catch some heat for it, but I know it's the right decision for me.

"I know I would get over there and be rushed and just not be excited to play.

"I know that sounds crazy for a major, the British Open at Turnberry, and I love the golf over there. There's a million reasons to go - I just feel like it's gonna be better for me to go to Milwaukee and go with my family."