PerryGolf -- The Advisor Travel Newsletter


SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003		VOLUME 03 NUMBER 03

The Advisor Insider News

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

Will another unsung champion such as Ben Curtis emerge at next year's Open Championship as the holder of the Claret Jug? Rule changes on qualifying may make it more difficult or easier depending on your point of view. Ben Curtis made it into the 2003 Open Championship through his play at the Western Open where 8 spots were available. Next year only the top finisher not otherwise exempt at the Western will qualify. New next year, the top finisher at the John Deere Classic the week after the Western, not already exempt, will make into the Open field. This may help the Deere field. On the European side, now only the top finisher at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond will qualify, rather than the eight previously available. And also the highest finisher at the Smurfit European Open the previous week, not yet qualified. Also reduced are the number of spots available based on money ranking after the Western and Scottish Open from 7 per Tour to 2 per Tour for the US and European PGA TOURS.

In order to make the field more global in make-up the R & A has announced changes in qualifying for next year's Open Championship at Royal Troon. "By introducing five international final qualifying competitions throughout the world (on five continents during their tours), we will make it easier for world ranked players who might not otherwise be exempt, to attempt to qualify for the Open," said Michael Tate, Assistant Secretary of the R&A.

There will be specific qualifiers in the United States, June 28th at Congressional Country Club with 12 spots available, in Europe at Sunningdale Golf Club, June 28th, with 12 spots available, in Australia, at Kingston Heath on February 19th-20th with 4 spots available, in Asia at Saujana G & CC, Kuala Lumpur on March 30th-31st with 4 spots available, and in Africa at Atlantic Beach Golf Club, South Africa on January 8th-9th, again with 4 spots available. This will reduce the number of spots available at the Local Final Qualifying sites in 2004 of Glasgow Gailes, Irvine, Turnberry's Kintyre and Western Gailes on July 10-11, down to 3 each or a total of 12.

Concerns over lessening the chances of amateurs, club professionals and lesser ranked pros was addressed by Tate, "It might seem that with only 12 places from local final qualifying (LFQ) it is going to be much harder for amateurs and club professionals to play in the Open. However, we have carefully analysed data from recent championships and have concluded that most world ranked players will opt to play in one of the IFQs, leaving the LFQs for players with less or no world ranking points. If anything, it should therefore be no more difficult, and in fact may be easier for amateurs and club professionals to gain one of the exempt places from LFQ."

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Ben Curtis may be the answer to another Open Championship trivia question as, Alex Harvey, the official engraver of the claret jug, is prepared to retire before next year's championship. The answer to the other half of the question is - Tom Weiskopf, Harvey's first name to engrave on the trophy as the winner of the 1973 Open Championship.

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Congratulations to Bernard Langer who accepted the invitation to be the European Team Captain for the 35th Ryder Cup Matches at Oakland Hills Country Club which will be played September 17-19, 2004.

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Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain, Sam Torrance made his debut on both the EUROPEAN SENIORS TOUR and the U.S. CHAMPIONS TOUR this September.