Tennessee, United States: Korean Noh Seung-yul has qualified for The 145th Open at Royal Troon via the FedEx St Jude Classic.
The FedEx St Jude Classic was the sixth event of The Open Qualifying Series, which gives players the opportunity to qualify for golf’s most international Major championship at leading Tour events.
Noh along with Americans Steve Stricker, Brian Gay and Russell Henley will now compete against the world’s best golfers to become Champion Golfer of the Year when The Open returns to the famous Ayrshire links for the ninth time next month.
Former Korean Amateur Champion Noh qualified for his third appearance in The Open, having played in 2010 at St Andrews and 2011 at Royal St George’s.
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans champion recovered from a double-bogey on the 12^th to pick up two shots in the final three holes to secure his place in the starting field at Royal Troon.
“This is my first top-10 this year and I’m so happy with that, especially to make The Open Championship. It’s been very special for me this week. I can’t wait.
“I was trying to win the tournament this week. I missed, but I made The Open so I’m really happy with that. I played in 2010 on the Old Course and St Andrews and then again in 2011 at Royal St George’s but missed the past few years. It’s really exciting to be at Royal Troon.
“I used to play a lot in England and Scotland and when I came to the States a few years ago I really missed playing Europe. I really can’t wait to get back there. “
Stricker, whose best performance in The Open is tied for seventh at Royal Birkdale in 2008, carded a final round 67 to finish in joint second place with 2013 Champion Golfer of the Year Phil Mickelson, and Brooks Koepka, who has already qualified for The Open after finishing in the top-10 in The 144^th Open at St Andrews in 2015.
The former Ryder Cup player picked up three birdies on the back nine to reach 10-under-par for the tournament, three shots behind winner Daniel Berger, who maintained his overnight lead to win his first PGA Tour event. Berger has already qualified for The Open after finishing in the top-30 leading qualifiers for the Tour Championship in 2015.
A final round 66 from Gay propelled the 2009 FedEx St Jude Classic winner into sixth place on eight-under and he qualified for The Open for a fourth time, having played in 2001, 2009 and 2010.
A birdie on the 16^th hole secured Henley’s place at The Open, the two-time PGA Tour winner finishing tied for seventh place on seven-under with Noh. The 27-year-old has played in The Open for the last three years and his best performance was tied 20^th at St Andrews in 2015.