Scotland’s Chris Doak declared it will be the biggest moment of his career competing in next month’s US Open.
Doak had to play four extra holes before a par saw the 35-year old Glaswegian qualifying to now join fellow Scots Paul Lawrie and Martin Laird in the year’s second Major commencing on June 13th at the Merion Club in Pennsylvania.
Doak, 35 was sunning himself on the lawn at the famed Surrey course when he got word he and the five other players on three under par would be involved in a play-off for five spots.
A proud Chris Doak points to his US Open qualifying score. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Doak carded a score of 71 firstly on the ‘harder’ Old Course and then an afternoon 70 on the ‘easier’ New Course.
Three of the six – Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal and the England pair of John Parry and David Howell – birdied the first to qualify.
It then left three others in Doak, Argentina’a Tanyo Goya and Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg to fight out two spots and it was Karlberg who dropped out at the fourth extra play-off hole with a bogey.
“I’m delighted and then as a kid you sought of imagine playing in a US Open but this will be the biggest moment so far of my career,” he said.
“I never had any expectations coming here, and besides I have a head cold, and I was thinking of not playing today as I was also tired from Maderia and last week playing at Wentworth.
“It’s been a long stretch of four weeks but my fiancée, Laura Butterworth and my caddy, Graham Forbes were driving me along today and I have to thank them.
“So I’ve got the golden ticket now (smiling).”
It will be Doak’s first ever Major Championship and for a player who’s highest pay cheque was £27,827 in finishing sixth in last year’s Lyoness Open in Austria.
Doak is leaving this morning (TUES) and this week’s Nordea Masters and then will have a week off before his Major Championship debut.
England’s Simon Khan made amends for his four hole BMW PGA Championship play-off loss in finishing the leading qualifier by a shot on seven under par.
Fellow Englishman and triple Ryder Cup star, Paul Casey and competing in his first-ever qualifier tied in second place on six under par.
The earlier windy conditions played havoc with the strongest field among the 13 venues the USGA hosts for US Open qualifying with 24 players, including Scott Jamieson not returning after a disappointing 75.
