Bernd Wiesberger, Robert Rock and Paul Waring have secured their places in The 148th Open at Royal Portrush after qualifying at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
The event was played at Lahinch Golf Club and was the 11th event in The Open Qualifying Series, which gives players around the world opportunities to qualify for golf’s original championship at leading professional Tour events.
Three places were available to the leading players, who finished in the top 10 and ties and who were not already exempt.
Wiesberger’s decision to skip Final Qualifying to focus on preparations for this week paid dividends.
He finished runner-up behind Jon Rahm, who is already exempt, with a 14-under-par total of 266 and earned his place in The 148th Open. The 33-year-old Austrian was on the same mark as Andy Sullivan who has already qualified.
Rock earned his place in The 148th Open after delighting crowds with a course-record round of 10-under-par 60 on Saturday. Firing an even-par fourth round was enough to see Rock qualify for The Open for an eighth time after he finished tied fourth on 13-under-par 267.
Eddie Pepperell and Rafa Cabrera Bello, who are already exempt, finished alongside Rock.
Waring, rolled in a birdie on the 72nd hole to confirm his place in The Open at Royal Portrush after finishing tied fifth with Jorge Campillo, who is already exempt, on a 12-under-par total of 268.
This will be the 34-year-old’s fourth appearance in The Open after he made his debut as an amateur in 2007 at Carnoustie. Waring also competed in The Open in 2008 and 2017 at Royal Birkdale, having also qualified via The Open Qualifying Series in his last appearance.
The next event in The Open Qualifying Series is the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, which takes place at The Renaissance Club and the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run from 11-14 July.
