Ellis on brink of historic double in Amateur final

England’s Harry Ellis faces an Ashes battle in the final of the Amateur Championship at Sandwich today in his effort to make history and earn himself dream berths at the Masters and the Open.

If Ellis beats Australia’s Dylan Perry in the 36-hole final he will become only the third player – after the legendary duo of Sir Michael Bonallack and Michael Lunt – to win both the English Amateur and the Amateur. And would become the youngest to do so, as well.

With the winner also gaining entry to next month’s major at Royal Birkdale as well as Augusta next April and the US Open next June, the stakes are ridiculously high. It would also be a famous double for Hampshire, after last year’s victory by Scott Gregory.

The Meon Valley product already has experience of setting records. When he was 16, Ellis broke Sir Nick Faldo’s mark for the youngest English Amateur champion. That was five years ago, since when Ellis was in danger of turning into the forgotten prodigy. But he has had a brilliant third year at Florida State University and has transferred that form to the famous Kent links.

Having dispatched highly rated Irishman Paul Mcbride in the morning quarter-final, Ellis accounted for the European Amateur champion, Italy’s Luca Cianchetti, 3 & 2 in the afternoon semi-final.

Ellis said the opportunity to play in three majors was “very exciting but someone told me ‘you are playing to win the Amateur Championship’, and that is my main aim.

“I’ve known Scott [Gregory] for a long time and played with him in the Hampshire team. Over the last year, I’ve seen him enjoy all the benefits that come with winning the Amateur. Of course, his triumph is an inspiration.”

Rory Mcilroy almost missed the cut at the Travelers Championship after his foot slipped while playing his approach shot to the final hole, leading to an unexpected bogey in Cromwell, Connecticut.

But while the Northern Irishman advanced to the weekend without a stroke to spare, another former world No1 Jason Day, headed home early for the second week in a row after signing for the wrong score.

Mcilroy and Day both missed the cut at the US Open last week, so Mcilroy was clearly relieved not to suffer the same fate after signing for a 73 for a halfway total of 140. Day finished on 142.