Scotland’s Marc Warren theoretically now needs only to finish last in the French Open and the almost certain guarantee of a place in next fortnight’s Open Championship.
Warren arrived in Versailles lying fourth among the list of non-exempt players on the Race to Dubai money list not into the July 18th starting 142nd Open at Muirfield.
However to qualify for golf’s oldest Major Warren must be inside the top-20 on the overall Race to Dubai standings at the close of the French event to be exempt.
Marc Warren with two scoops during the recent US Open qualifier at Walton Heath. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The Glaswegian is 21st but just £800 behind the 20th ranked Malaysian-born Kiradech Aphibarnrat who, despite already being exempt into his first Open Championship, easily missed the cut on the Le National course on the outskirts of Dubai.
Warren, who is lying at one under par with scores of 69 and 72, will earn some £5,000 in finishing last among those who made the three-over par cut off mark.
And there could be nine Scots teeing up at Muirfield as Bathgate’s Stephen Gallacher is lying 23rd on the Race to Dubai and is currently the fifth highest non-exempt player, and £18,000 behind the Apribarnrat.
Gallacher emerged fom a one hour fog delay that delayed the start of play and adding a second round 70 to head to the weekend at four under par.
It put the Bathgate pro into a share of third place late in the day and just two shots behind Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti (68) who leads the field by a stroke after carding a second straight three under par effort on the 2018 Ryder Cup host venue.
And while Gallacher has put himself in contention for a second victory this season he is also conscious of seeking to secure one of the five qualifying places into The Open.
“I know it’s up to me now and I came here to France looking for a good performance to get into The Open and so far I am on course,” he said.
“It was pretty misty for the first six holes as the fog really hadn’t cleared and the ball was not going very far which made it difficult to adjust.
“And by the end of the round the sun was out and it was baking hot.
“But I did not beat myself up just making pars. Although I didn’t play as well as I did in the first round I kept out of trouble and that’s what you have to do here because a loose shot means a bogey.
“I actually had quite a few birdie chances but did take them like the the 15th where I missed from eight feet.
”But after my recent injuries this is only my second event back and after feeling a little rusty last week at the Irish Open, it’s been nice this week to get back into the groove of competition.”
Those Scots already exempt into The Open include former champions Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie along with Scott Jamieson and Richie Ramsay.
A further three Scots in Craiglaw amateur Grant Forrest, Anstruther’s George Murray and Archerfield’s Lloyd Saltman won through last Tuesday at Local Final Qualifying.
Jamieson continues his recent return to good form moving to three under par and one stroke less than Ramsay.
