South African Richard Sterne may have suffered the disappointment of finishing second in the French Open but he’s celebrating after securing top spot among the five Open Championship qualifiers.
South African Richard Sterne finishes second to Graeme McDowell in the French Open but secures first place among the five Open Championship qualifiers. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)
Sterne ended-up four shots behind new World No. 6 Graeme McDowell but moments later he secured a place into next week’s Open Championship.
The close of the French Open meant the close of qualifying off the 2013 Race to Dubai money list and with the leading five, not otherwie exempt into Muirfield, winning through to the season’s third and oldest major.
The top five qualifiers on both the Race to Dubai and PGA Tour are:-
The five Race to Dubai exemptions were confirmed following the Alstom Open de France at the weekend:
Richard Sterne – the South African finished four shots off the lead at the Alstom Open de France after winning his sixth European Tour event at the Joburg Open in February. The 32-year-old finished tied 34th at The Open in 2009.
Brett Rumford – the Australian has amassed five wins on the European Tour including two victories within seven days this year in the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea and the Volvo China Open. His best finish in The Open was tied 16th at Royal Liverpool in 2006.
Mikko Ilonen – claimed his third European Tour title at the Nordea Masters in Sweden in June. The Finn won the Amateur Championship in 2000 at Royal Liverpool and then finished tied ninth at The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes the following year.
Thomas Bjorn – the veteran Dane will play in his 16th Open Championship where his best finish was tied second at St Andrews in 2000 and Royal St George’s in 2003. The 42-year-old was runner-up at the BMW International Open in Germany and the Lyoness Open in Austria last month.
Marc Warren – the 32-year-old Scot finished tied second at the BMW PGA Championship in May. He will make his debut in The Open Championship at Muirfield.
The five FedExCup exemptions were confirmed following the Greenbrier Classic at the weekend:
Billy Horschel – the 26-year-old Floridean won his maiden event on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April.
Boo Weekley – the former Ryder Cup player won the Crowne Plaza Invitational in May. He finished tied 13th at The Open in 2009.
Russell Henley – the 23-year-old from Georgia won the Sony Open in Hawaii in January.
Jimmy Walker – finished joint runner-up at the Greenbrier Classic at the weekend. The 34-year-old will make his Open debut at Muirfield.
Harris English – won the FedEx St Jude Classic last month. The 23-year-old, who played in the last Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen in 2011, finished tied 54th in The Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes last year.
Bjorn’s decision not to tee-up at the recent International Final Qualifier at Sunningdale paid dividends with the Dane now set to contest his 16th Open Championship since his debut in 1996.
Warren is delighted as he will contest his first-ever Open Championship and securing fifth place by just Euro 888 from fellow Scotsman Stephen Gallacher.
One place remains into The Open and that is for this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management winner, if he is not already exempt.
