US Open Qualifier at Walton Heath

mrt99 · May 25, 2015

The 36 hole qualifier for the US Open just wrapped up over in England. See attached results. Alexander Levy was the leading qualifier, while Padraig Harrington and Peter Uihlein both missed out on the playoff for the last couple of spots by a single stroke.

http://www.europeant...oard/index.html

HoffTTM · May 25, 2015

Amazing the amount of withdrawals after poor 1st rounds, wonder if they get sanctioned in any way for doing that

PuttLeftHitRight · May 25, 2015

[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1432580216' post='11623618']
Amazing the amount of withdrawals after poor 1st rounds, wonder if they get sanctioned in any way for doing that
[/quote]

They should. If you can't finish you don't deserve the chance to ever try again. #Quitters

i*windows · May 25, 2015

Jason Palmer the one handed chipping wiz qualified

farmer · May 25, 2015

Sadly, Maurice Flitcroft has died. Probably wouldn't have wanted to make the trip anyway.

PGArox · May 25, 2015

[quote name='farmer' timestamp='1432608053' post='11626230']
Sadly, Maurice Flitcroft has died. Probably wouldn't have wanted to make the trip anyway.
[/quote]

Maurice's death was a hoax. Nowadays he goes by the pseudonym of Jones Scott.

golfortennis · May 26, 2015

[quote name='HoffTTM' timestamp='1432580216' post='11623618']
Amazing the amount of withdrawals after poor 1st rounds, wonder if they get sanctioned in any way for doing that
[/quote]

Why would they get sanctioned? The USGA has their entry fee, and they are willingly giving away their chance at a spot. Plus it's 36 holes, a few W/Ds may speed things up a little in the afternoon.

Santiago Golf · May 26, 2015

Some of these guys are Club pros and some are euro players. They got to go work next day. Wether its in a pro shop or practice round for a tournament. If I was out of it and had tournament that same week, I would bounce

gjjtr5 · May 26, 2015

[quote name='Santiago Golf' timestamp='1432649175' post='11627976']
Some of these guys are Club pros and some are euro players. They got to go work next day. Wether its in a pro shop or practice round for a tournament. If I was out of it and had tournament that same week, I would bounce
[/quote]

None of these players are club pros. They are all top tier tour pros. The qualifying at Walton Heath is the only venue for qualification within Europe and is only open to players who are members of the European Tour who are not otherwise exempt.

You are right in that the vast majority of them are playing in the Irish Open hosted by Rory McIlroy this week and this qualification took away a day's preparation time from this event on the European Tour. Many of them traveled straight to Royal County Down following play at Walton Heath.

Also this qualification is the day after the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth - so after a week of tough competition, when they know they are out of the running for a qualification spot, they probably just want to move on (whether that's right or wrong).

pendodave · May 26, 2015

I attended this.

It is the USGA's gift to the discerning golf fan in the UK. Two great courses, small crowds, walking the fairways with all the non-exempt Euro tour players. All two balls, so play is brisk and to the point.

It's in the middle of a really busy time of the schedule, and many of them start really early having only just finished at Wentworth the day before. Everyone knows the score - if it's going badly no-one really expects them to go out in the afternoon. It's always been that way.

As we don't have to pay to watch, and no-one pays them to play, nobody cares except PLHR....

HoffTTM · May 26, 2015

[quote name='pendodave' timestamp='1432679531' post='11631420']
I attended this.

It is the USGA's gift to the discerning golf fan in the UK. Two great courses, small crowds, walking the fairways with all the non-exempt Euro tour players. All two balls, so play is brisk and to the point.

It's in the middle of a really busy time of the schedule, and many of them start really early having only just finished at Wentworth the day before. Everyone knows the score - if it's going badly no-one really expects them to go out in the afternoon. It's always been that way.

As we don't have to pay to watch, and no-one pays them to play, nobody cares except PLHR....
[/quote]

So how does that work if there are 20 odd withdrawals? Do they magically find markers for all their partners?

I don't remember them redrawing partners for the second round the few times I have been to the IFQ for the Open Championship at Sunningdale

pendodave · May 26, 2015

They just shuffle them all up. I suppose that if there's an odd one at the end they either make a three ball or send out a marker.

Even some of the first round groups are shuffled around because the draw is done before the end of play at the PGA on sunday and some become exempt or injured.

It's a real shame that the Sunningdale IFQ no longer runs, as it had many of the same plus-points as the US open. When I attended it, you were forced to stay behind ropes though, which was a big minus c/f Walton Heath.