Aussies chasing final US Open berths
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 US Open | General | 01 Jun 2008
Monday June 2nd will see Sectional Qualifying for the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines completed at 13 venues across the United States and one in Surrey, England.
With seven Australians and one New Zealander already assured of a start in the event, which starts on Thursday June 12th, another 25 or so Australasians will make one last attempt to play the event, with most teeing it up in either Memphis, Tennessee or in Columbus, Ohio.
Those playing in Columbus will be doing so because of the venue’s proximity to this week’s Memorial Tournament, while those playing in Tennessee will do so prior to playing next week’s Stamford St Jude Championship in Memphis.
Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Rod Pampling and Craig Parry are already assured of a start in the US Open. All but Parry are there either as a previous winner (Ogilvy), or in the case of the others via their world ranking. Parry was one of two successful qualifiers at the recent Japan qualifying.
New Zealander Michael Campbell will also take his place despite being currently ranked outside the top 300 in the world. Campbell earns his right to play at Torrey Pines via his brilliant victory at Pinehurst in 2005.
Players of the calibre of Nick O’Hern, who is having a good week at The Memorial, will be required to tee it up, as will Mathew Goggin who is currently leading the Memorial, John Senden who sits just outside the top 50 in the world ranking and Steve Elkington.