Dodt tees up Open shot

JOURNEYMAN Australian golfer Andrew Dodt has forced his way into the British Open field after sinking a four-foot par putt to tie for fourth in the Scottish Open.

Dodt started the final round at Dundonald Links in a share of the lead but dropped out of contention on the back nine, carding a one-over par 73 to finish eight-under.

But the 31-year-old from Brisbane ranked 193 in the world just did enough to secure the last remaining British Open spot — and his first start in a major.

“I’m over the moon,” Dodt said.

“It’s been a big goal of mine to play my first major and it’s great news.

“I found myself a little bit mentally fatigued on the back nine.

“I felt like I used a lot of energy early on in the round and really had to take things a bit slower and take one step at a time a bit because I knew the Open spot was right in line.

“I had to dig as deep as I could down the stretch.”

Dodt joins an 11-strong Australian charge at the Open, which includes Jason Day (world No.6), Adam Scott (No.15) and Marc Leishman (No.33).

As Spain’s Rafael Cabrera Bello beat Englishman Callum Shinkwin in a playoff to win his first tournament since 2012, Dodt finished alongside New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, Anthony Wall, Padraig Harrington and Matt Kuchar.

He claimed the final place for Royal Birkdale over Wall by virtue of his higher world ranking going into the traditional British Open lead-up.

Dodt, who had been scheduled to fly to New York for a holiday with his wife, has plied his trade on the Australasian, Asian and European tours.

The 2010 Avantha Masters, the 2014 Queensland Open and the 2015 Thailand Classic count as his only three professional wins.

Shinkwin had looked set to claim the title only to fluff his chip to the 18th in regulation and then leave a putt to win short from just four feet.

The pair returned to the 18th for sudden death and Cabrera Bello, whose closing 64 had set a course record at Dundonald Links, produced a stunning approach to the par five to set up a two-putt birdie.