Four punch tickets to British Open

Kyle Stanley is going to the British Open.

So is Charles Howell III. And Martin Laird. And Sung Kang.

That was each player’s reward for a successful week in the Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm. As part of the Open Qualifying Series, the four earned spots Sunday into the oldest championship in golf.

The top four players in the Quicken Loans National who weren’t previously exempt into the Open and finished among the top 12 earned entry.

Stanley punched his ticket by winning the Quicken Loans. How- ell finished second, losing in a playoff. Laird tied for third and Kang finished in a tie for fifth and got the spot because of his world ranking.

“Anytime you can play in an Open, that’s my favorite golf tournament of the year,” said Laird, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and has played in the British Open five times but not since 2013. “That was the tournament when I was a kid I’d go sit with my dad and watch. So to have the chance to play it anytime is special.”

The series provides 44 spots in the British Open. Golfers get chances to earn a spot at events around the world on the PGA Tour, European Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

The 146th British Open will be contested July 20-23 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open on nine occasions, the most recent being in 2008, when Padraig Harrington was victorious.

It will be the first British Open for Kang.

“Majors are always really special, so it will be really fun to just play,” said Kang, who is from South Korea. “My caddie’s been there and caddied there before, so he’ll let me know. I grew up on an island where the wind’s blowing really hard normally, so I’ll be fine with the wind. But I’m not really used to that like links-style course. So the weather-wise it will be fine, but I’m not sure about the course.”