Scots running out of time to join field for The Open

Time and opportunities are running out for Scottish players to join Bob Macintyre in the field for next week’s 149th Open at Royal St George’s in Kent.

The 24-year-old from Oban has had his spot in the delayed event tied down since finishing joint sixth on his debut in the game’s oldest major at Royal Portrush in 2019.

But, as things stand, Macintyre, pcitured below, is the sole Scot heading south, with former winners Sandy Lyle and Paul Lawrie not in the line up at Sandwich.

Lyle, who claimed his victory at Royal St George’s in 1985, is no longer exempt, having bowed out at Carnoustie in 2018, while Lawrie has decided to give this year’s event a miss.

The Aberdonian is hosting the Farmfoods Scottish Par 3 Championship at the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre next week. He also staged a junior version of that last week, which was won by rising Blairgowrie star Connor Graham.

The Scottish hopefuls in last week’s Final Qualifying came up short in the battle for 12 spots before Grant Forrest agonisingly missed out on one of three places up for grabs through the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Richie Ramsay also got close to securing one of the spots from the Mount Juliet, but all is not yet lost for the Scots who hold cards for the European Tour and Challenge Tour.

Another three places are on offer in this week’s abrdn Scottish Open on the main tour at The Renaissance Club while the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge in France also has a spot up for grabs on the Challenge Tour.