Hill still in hunt for US Open berth at Torrey Pines

Calum Hill is in with a chance of securing a second US Open appearance through the European Tour’s mini-order of merit for the season’s third major at Torrey Pines the week after next.

Due to the traditional qualifying events not taking place this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, 10 spots are up for grabs on the California coast through three tournaments on the European Tour.

The Betfred British Masters and Made in Himmerland have already taken place, with the final event being this week’s Porsche European Open in Hamburg. That has been reduced to 54 holes instead of 72 and is being held from Friday to Monday because the German government put the United Kingdom on its travel "red list”. Three of the US Open spots already looked to have been secured by England’s Richard Bland, Italian Guido Migliozzi and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

As things stand, Adrian Meronk, Jordan Smith, Dave Coupland, Mikko Korhonen, Jason Scrivener, Andy Sullivan and Alexander Bjork are the other players in the qualifying spots. But, mainly thanks to his top-10 British Masters finish, Hill, pictured, is 15th and a strong display in Hamburg can get the job done.

On the Tartan Tour, meanwhile, Ross Cameron is the defending champion in the Northern Open at Portlethen over the next two days. Peterhead man Cameron, who won at Spey Valley in Aviemore last year, faces a stiff task in his bid to repeat the feat in a field including other former winners Alastair Forsyth, Paul O’hara and Greig Hutcheon.