British Open Qualifying: Graeme McDowell faces the prospects of a seven-player play-off today after finishing in a tie for 15th place in yesterday's rain-interrupted International Final Qualifying at Sunningdale for the British Open Championship.
There were 18 spots available for the 120-strong field and the play-off, starting at 7am this morning, will be between seven players for the last four spots.
Joining McDowell on the first tee today are the English trio Simon Dyson, James Hepworth and Robert Rock as well as South African's Darren Fichard and Richard Steren and Italy's Alessandro Tadini.
McDowell shot two rounds of 69 to tie with the other six on two-under-par 138.
However, for Ireland's other two entries, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie, the chase for a place in the Hoylake field is over.
Murphy was well in contention after an opening round of 69, but in the worst of the weather in the afternoon, the Kilkenny man slipped down the field to shoot 77 and finish on six-over-par 146.
It was trouble all the way for Lawrie, who after an opening 75 failed to return a card for the second round.
Meanwhile, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Marco Ruiz led the field home on eight-under-par 132.
The rain that started overnight and continued throughout the morning and afternoon flooded greens and caused a suspension of nearly two hours.
Seasoned campaigner Barry Lane of England qualified in sixth place after two 68s. Lane has been a professional for 30 years and knows what it is like to face Ryder Cup pressure, but he still confessed to butterflies in his stomach last night as he battled through the qualifying tournament.
An American qualifying tournament was also due to take place yesterday in Washington, but that was put back 24 hours and cut from 36 to 18 holes because of the weather problems at the Booz Allen Classic.
If there is no play possible today the event will be cancelled and the 12 spots on offer awarded to the 12 leading players in the world rankings not yet qualified.
Leading scores: Qualifiers - 132 - L Oosthuizen (Rsa) 66 66, M Ruiz (Par) 67 65. 135 - R Green (Aus) 69 66, S Little (Eng) 69 66, M Pilkington (Wal) 69 66, 136 - S Kjeldsen (Den) 68 68, B Lane (Eng) 68 68, C Rodiles (Spa) 68 68, S Wakefield (Eng) 67 69, 137 - J Donaldson (Wal) 67 70, P Hedblom (Swe) 70 67, P Price (Wal) 70 67, B Rumford (Aus) 66 71, L Slattery (Eng) 70 67. Play-off - 138 - S Dyson (Eng) 71 67, D Fichardt (Rsa) 70 68, J Hepworth (Eng) 69 69, G McDowell (NIrl) 69 69, R Rock (Eng) 68 70, R Sterne (Rsa) 7167, A Tadini (Ita) 70 68. Other Irish: 146 - G Murphy 69 77, NR: P Lawrie 75 NR.
