At 52, Lee Westwood of England becomes the oldest player to qualify for The Open Championship in three years. The third major of the year, the coveted claret jug will be on the line from July 17-20 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Westwood, a grizzled veteran of their sport, has an equally impressive resume with 25 European Tour titles and three Order of Merit titles. He proved his mettle by blowing away the field in qualifiers at Dundonald where he finished 7-under 137, the number one qualifier.
Westwood’s journey back to The Open comes after a hiatus, during which he joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit three years ago. His experience and talent really stood out. It was enough to earn him a place in the 20 slots available via the Final Regional Qualifying.
Notably, this year, three LIV players entered the field through the qualifiers. They were part of 15 total participants in the event. Lucas Herbert from Australia and Dean Burmester from South Africa were other notable players who qualified for The Open through the 72-hole route. Herbert was first to qualify, topping the leaderboard at West Lancashire, before Burmester secured his place with a similar feat at Royal Cinque Ports.
Richard Teder, from Estonia, made headlines with a remarkable show of talent. He is now the first golfer from his native country to play in the prestigious championship. Teder clinched his place with a holed eagle from the fairway during a four-man playoff to earn his place. Seven other LIV players didn’t make the cut, either finishing in the bottom half of the field or pulling out of competition during a round. Open champion Graeme McDowell has deep roots in Portrush. He was one of the five LIV players who blew their opportunity at Royal Cinque Ports.
Looking back on his qualification, Westwood could hardly contain his enthusiasm as he spoke of a return to one of golf’s most prestigious spectacles.
“I’ve always said it’s the greatest championship in golf and as a British player you get phenomenal support.” – Lee Westwood
Westwood’s return to The Open will be an important milestone in his career. It illustrates the strength and variety of this year’s field. The excitement continues to grow as we lead up to the big championship! Fans and players alike can hardly wait to see this legendary sporting event come to life!
“I’m just looking forward to enjoying the week at Portrush, seeing a few old friends and enjoying that golf course.” – Lee Westwood
Westwood’s return to The Open not only marks a significant milestone in his career but also highlights the diverse mix of players competing this year. As anticipation builds for the championship, fans and players alike are eager to witness the unfolding of this iconic sporting event.
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