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Van de Velde qualifies for Open

08/07/2008

Frenchman Jean van de Velde will have mixed feelings after being one of 12 players to emerge from local qualifying for this year's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Van de Velde previously qualified in 1999 and then went on to famously capitulate when leading the open on the final hole, an event he has never been able to live down.

The 42-year-old Frenchman prefers to look on the positive side of the omens, however, and will aim to recapture the form that placed him in contention in 1999.

“It means a lot to be playing in it again,” he said. “There are only two tournaments a year I want to play in and play good in - the French Open and the Open. I qualified in 1999 and played quite well I seem to remember, so maybe this is my chance.”

Van de Velde was one of four players to come through the 36-hole final qualifying at Hillside with a one under par total of 143.

The Frenchmen had been critical of the encroachment into his space by spectators on both days of qualifying, but he was glad of their presence when a member of the gallery found his ball in dense rough after a wayward drive on the 17th.

Had it not been for that fortunate intervention, van de Velde would have missed the open for the second year running, having been absent with a virus from Carnoustie twelve months ago.

The four qualifiers from the 96-stronge field at Hillside – one of three qualifying competitions taking place – were van de Velde, Chris Woods from Bristol, and Australian Rohan Blizard, who all finished three behind Kenilworth's Jamie Elson.

Elsewhere Irishman Philip Walton, Europe's Ryder Cup hero in 1995, finished top at West Lancashire, earning his participation in next week’s event.