Double U.S. Open winner and double European No. 1 Retief Goosen was the only story after qualifying for the 144th Open Championship at the Woburn course in England.

Having missed The Open last year for a first time since making his debut in 1996 the South African has qualified for golf’s oldest Major after birding the first extra hole.

Irishman Paul Dunne topped the qualifiers and for a second year running to join four other amateurs now in the field for the St Andrews Open.

The 22-year-old Dunne, from Greystones, won by three strokes, as he did last year, following rounds of 70 and 65 on the Marquess Course which gave him a nine-under-par total of 135.

Goosen overcame fatigue to come through a play-off to book his place on the course where he finished tied fifth in 2005 behind Tiger Woods and sixth five years ago behind fellow South African Charl Schwartzel.

Double US Open winner Retief Goosen qualifies for the 144th Open Championship. (Photo – www.randa.org)

The 46-year-old Goosen, who had only four hours’ sleep after spending Monday in Germany following his tied fourth place finish at the BMW International Open, birdied the first extra hole against English pair Adam Gee and Jamie Moul after they had tied on five-under-par.

The other player to qualify was England’s Robert Dinwiddie, who finished second on his own at six-under-par and will finally make his Open debut after 16 attempts starting when he was only 15.

Two days after finishing runner-up at the US Senior Open in California, Colin Montgomerie, runner-up to Tiger Woods at St Andrews in 2005, missed out by four shots, however.

A year ago Dunne, who plans to turn professional later this year, was the only amateur to survive the 36-hole Final Qualifying, played this year at Hillside, Royal Cinque Ports and Woburn in England and Gailes Links in Scotland,but that was far from the case this time.

At Royal Cinque Ports in Kent, England’s Alister Balcombe and Ben Taylor shared top spot with professional Gary Boyd, while 20-year-old Liverpudlian Paul Kinnear came through at Gailes Links and American Jordan Niebrugge at Hillside.

Kinnear was emotional after joining professionals Mark Young and New Zealander Ryan Fox, whose father Grant played for the All Blacks. While Niebrugge tied for first place with Australian Scott Arnold and Swede Pelle Edberg at the Southport venue.

Balcombe, a 19-year-old from Bristol with a plus-three handicap, followed up his opening 67 with a 70 to finish on five-under-par at Royal Cinque Ports.

Taylor, 23 and a plus-five handicapper from Walton Heath, has just finished his studies at Louisiana State University and birdied three of his last seven holes for a 67, while Boyd matched Balcombe’s two rounds. It will be his third trip to The Open with his best finish coming in 2011 at Royal St George’s where he was tied 38th.

Among those who missed out there were former Ryder Cup player Paul Broadhurst, who in the 1990 Open at St Andrews shot a major record-equalling 63, and Scot Raymond Russell, joint fourth with amateur Justin Rose at Royal Birkdale in 1998.

Former conservatory fitter Young, from Longridge, near Preston, was pinching himself after securing his place in The Open at Gailes Links, with rounds of 68 and 70 for four-under-par to finish two shots clear of the field. He turned professional only last November and signed for an eagle and three birdies in his morning effort before mixing three birdies with a double bogey in the afternoon.

Arnold, from Sydney, added a 73 to his opening 68 at Hillside, while Edberg posted a 71 to add to his 70 and Niebrugge shot 69 and 72. Edberg’s round included a holed 60-yard pitch for eagle at the second, his 11th.

Key quotes:

Retief Goosen

“I won two Dunhill Cups there as well (with Ernie Els and David Frost in 1997 and 1998) and first played it when I was 18, so I’ve walked a good few miles on that course and I love it.”

Paul Dunne

“I guess I love this place. Last year was a bit more of a shock because I had no expectations. This time I knew I could shoot the scores and that put more pressure on me.

“I’m delighted. It’s not really sunk it yet, but going to St Andrews will be ultra-special – probably the biggest week of my life.”