Montgomerie Qualifies For Royal Troon Open

Colin Montgomerie will play at next month's Open Championship at Royal Troon after surviving a tense afternoon of qualifying at Gailes Links in Scotland.

The 53-year-old posted rounds of 66 and 71 to snatch one of the three spots up for grabs during the 36-hole qualifying event at the Ayrshire Course.

However, Montgomerie had to endure an anxious wait to discover his fate after completing his second round late in the afternoon.

The former European No 1 managed to remain one stroke clear of Jack Doherty who finished at four under. His fellow Scot Doherty was unable to recover from a bogey-four at the 15th - his only dropped shot of the round.

Montgomerie, an eight-times Ryder Cup player and former European captain, revealed his delight at qualifying to play at Royal Troon where his father was once the club secretary.

Montgomerie admitted having a nervous time waiting for his compatriot to finish on the 18th green and he told Sky Sports News HQ: "I was biting my finger nails and hoping it was good enough.

"The advantage I had was sometimes it is more difficult playing catch up. Don't forget I'm the oldest player here and 36 holes in a day can be tough. I was up at five o'clock this morning.

"This will be my last opportunity to play at Royal Troon because it only comes around once every 12 years. But it was nice to come here with 72 players, a high-quality field and to finish third, which is all one has to do."

It will be his first Open appearance for six years. His highest finish in the championship is second to Tiger Woods at St Andrews 11 years ago.

Monty finished five strokes adrift of venue winner Oscar Arvidsson, a Swede who carded rounds of 64 and 68.

Arvidsson plays much of his golf in Asia and is ranked a lowly 1,418 in the world. The other qualifier from Gailes was Spaniard Scott Fernandez who posted scores of 70 and 66 over the par 71 course.

Gailes was one of four venues being used by the Royal & Ancient for Final Qualifying on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, at Woburn, Paul Dunne led the way with impressive rounds of 68 and 67 over The Marquess Course.

The Irishman, who shot to fame as an amateur at St Andrews last year, completed 36 holes in nine-under-par.

After a bogey-free morning, the afternoon round was a mixed bag of eight birdies and three bogeys, as he crossed the finishing line one stroke clear of Wellingborough pro Ryan Evans.

Dunne, 23, hit the headlines last July as the 54-hole leader of The Open Championship at the Old Course, since when he has turned professional.

It is the third consecutive year that Dunne has come through qualifying to play in The Open.