The 144th Open: Greg Owen qualifies for St Andrews
Thursday 9 July 2015 12:09, UK
Englishman Greg Owen is one of four players to have secured a late qualifying berth for next week's Open at St Andrews.
The 43-year-old from Mansfield who, since 2005, has played most of his golf in the States, earned his spot in Scotland by finishing in a tie for sixth at The Greenbrier Classic on Sunday.
Owen looks on course to secure his PGA Tour card for next season and also qualify for the end-of-season FedEx Cup play-offs thanks to a brace of top-six finishes during the past month.
Owen, who finished second at the St Jude Classic in June, is delighted to be back in The Open for only the second time in eight years.
He said: "Obviously being British, it's a huge honour to play in The Open. I think at this point I've qualified through every way possible now. I'm very much looking forward to playing.
"I've played well at St Andrews in the Dunhill and I made my first cut in The Open there in 2000 so I'm very excited to get back.
"I've not played it since the new tees have been put in so I've got some work to do.
"It's the history that sets St Andrews apart. It's the Home of Golf, you know the holes inside and out, and everyone knows about 17 and 18. Everyone can relate to it and picture where you need to hit the ball."
The other three golfers to book their appointment at the Old Course are Danny Lee, David Hearn and James Hahn.
New Zealander Lee won at Greenbrier, Canadian Hearn was beaten in a four-man play-off for the title, while American Hahn finished level with Owen two strokes adrift.
Following his maiden victory on Tour in West Virginia, the 24-year-old Lee admitted he is excited about qualifying for the season’s third major championship.
He said: "This means a lot. I've never been to St Andrews. I've only ever seen it on television when I have been cheering for Tiger Woods winning."
"It’s going to be amazing and it’s going to be so much fun," said Lee. "I'm very lucky that it’s being played at St Andrews because I’ve always wanted to play there."
Hearn, 36, makes his second consecutive start in The Open and said: "It's really special. I'm excited to get back this year especially with it being at the home of golf.
"Going into these two weeks that has been my primary goal to get into St Andrews and that mission was accomplished."
And 33-year-old Hahn, a maiden Tour winner in California during February, added: "I've never played St Andrews before. I've only seen it on TV.
"It's definitely pretty surreal at the moment. It’s one of those golf courses that everyone knows and everyone recognises the holes." Hahn will be making his Open debut.
