Golf news
Owen stoked for Open return
Greg Owen insists he is relishing the chance to play in the Open at St Andrews after securing his place at the Greenbrier Classic.
Under the new qualification rules, places are available for players finishing well in events leading up to the tournament and Owen’s share of sixth place was enough to book his spot in Scotland.
It will be the Mansfield-born veteran’s eighth appearance in the Open – but only his second in eight years – and he will hope to keep up his recent stellar form to make a splash on the famous Old Course.
Owen, who is based in Florida and plays exclusively on the PGA Tour, finished second in last month’s FedEx St Jude Classic before another top-10 last week and so he is in good shape for his trip across the Atlantic.
The 43-year-old is looking forward to the challenge of a venue that he knows well.
“I’ve played well at St Andrews in the past in the Dunhill Cup and I made my first cut in The Open there in 2000 so I’m very excited to get back,” he said.
“It’s the history that sets St Andrews apart. It’s the home of golf, you know the holes inside out. Everyone knows about 17 and 18. You can relate to it and picture where you need to hit the ball. But I’ve not played it since the new tees have been put in so I’ve some work to do.”
Korea-born New Zealander Danny Lee, Canadian David Hearn and US star James Hahn also made it from the PGA Tour event while England’s James Morrison, South African Jaco Van Zyl and Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello qualified from their finishes in the Alstom Open de France.
