Sky’s the limit as Armitage eyes Open bid

MARCUS Armitage won’t be going skydiving any time soon, especially not now he has qualified for The Open.

The 32-year-old, who was born in Salford and began his career as a junior at Oldham Golf Club as a distraction following the death of his mum, booked his place at Royal St George’s with a third-place finish in the South Africa Open in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Having gone into the final day as joint leader after a 62 in the third round, he was unable to keep pace with eventual leader Branden Grace.

But, playing the final round with former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, he holed a birdie on the 18th from 15 feet to snatch outright third place and secure a place at The Open and in next week’s Abu Dhabi Championship.

“It’s pretty awesome to qualify for The Open and not have to go to St Annes Old Links for final qualifying again!” said 32-year-old Armitage, who had to come through Q School to qualify for the European Tour this year. “What a day – and what an 18th hole.

“I had an idea, but I didn’t fully know what was at stake. I just knew that if I birdied, I would get into Abu Dhabi next week and into The Open. It was some buzz. I went nuts. I have never had adrenaline like that. This is what I live, for moments like this.

“I haven’t won the tournament but I have learned a lot and I will take it on to next week and I will try and beat these boys.

“I have done my apprenticeship. I got on the tour a few years ago, but didn’t really know what was going on. It took me a couple of years on the Challenge Tour and through European Tour school to get back on the Tour. Now I feel like I am finding my game, I am in a good place at the moment.”

Armitage, who was pictured during one of his first European Tour events earlier in his career asking Tiger Woods for his autograph, has only played in one major – the 2018 Open at Carnoustie, although he had to play through the pain of a shoulder injury.

“I was injured when I played at Carnoustie because I went sky-diving 10 days before,” he said. “I won’t be doing that again this year – I’ll be preparing for Royal St George’s and looking to win it.

“It’s the best championship on the planet for me. So, it’s everything – that is the dream.

“People say to you, ‘you’re on The European Tour, you’re living the dream.’ No, the dream is when I’ve got the Claret Jug in my pocket and I’m off to find the other three majors.

“I’m looking forward to pegging it up against the players that I want to be pegging it up against every week. It’s another chance to go in there and showcase my talents.”

Armitage, who had to go through Q School to qualify for the European Tour this season, revealed that the death of his mum in March 2001 was the catalyst to his golf career.

“I stopped going to school,” he said.

“I don’t know how my dad got away without getting a fine because of it. I left at 13 and never went back. The only place that I could go and focus was on the practice ground.

“In a classroom, I was just sat thinking about my mum dying.

“On the practice ground, all I was focused on was hitting a golf ball. Golf was an escape for me.

“My dad used to take me to Oldham Golf Club, drop me off at 8am and pick me up at 6pm, so all I did was practise.”