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Open Features The numbers point to Tiger Woods A shock at 2005 Open unlikely Avoiding bunkers the key at St Andrews Tom Watson speaks of respect for Jack Nicklaus Late qualification causes Sean O'Hair problems Short game problems issue for Todd Hamilton Greg Norman has few hopes on return from injury Tiger Woods favourite for Open Todd Hamilton returns the Claret Jug Colin Montgomerie still set on breaking Major duck Tony Jacklin to call it day Padraig Harrington withdraws after father's death Varied weather hits St Andrews Padraig Harrington may withdraw after father's death Seve Ballesteros vows to return to Open Nicklaus & Watson paired together Nick Faldo backs Tiger Woods to break Major records Jack Nicklaus begins his Major goodbye Despite length St Andrews still needs wind Phil Mickelson confident of Open chances Major goodbye lined up for Jack Nicklaus Bernard Langer earns late Open call up Thongchai leads Asian Tour challenge Brad Faxon makes it through Open Qualification Differing views on playing before a Major Mayfair, Perez & Bryant secure Open places Ian Woosnam makes it through Open Qualifying Kenneth Ferrie clinches Open spot

Brad Faxon makes it through Open Qualification

American former Ryder Cup player Brad Faxon's gamble to enter final qualifying for the British Open paid off when he clinched a place for the tournament proper at Lundin on Sunday.

A seven-under-par 64 on Saturday looked to have set the 43-year-old on course for a place in the elite St Andrews field but he could muster only a 69 on Sunday and initially told reporters he believed his chance had gone at nine under par overall (133).

"I would have thought 12 under would be a good target but I never thought it would be an easy thing to do as you have to shoot two great rounds," he said.

"I missed a couple of chances there at the end and that just might cost me."

Faxon, though, qualified joint second from Lundin behind Norwegian Lars Brovold who had a 130 total following rounds of 66-64, including a closing nine of just 27 shots with six birdies and an eagle.

Most leading world-ranked players, not already exempt, go through international qualifying following its introduction last year to save them the expense of a possibly wasted trip to Britain to take part in the world's oldest major tournament.

But Faxon, who appeared in the 1995 and 1997 Ryder Cups, was unable to play in the U.S. qualifier because of a conflicting engagement so instead tried his luck as one of 384 players chasing 12 Open places divided equally between four local courses.

Faxon was by far the biggest name to appear on the four courses with most mainly club professionals and amateurs from Britain and a sprinkling of European Tour regulars.

The field did include Ronan Rafferty, the 1989 European number one from Ireland, but he was formally disqualified for failing to hand in his scorecard after struggling at Scotscraig.

The 134th British Open will be held at St Andrews' Old Course starting on Thursday when American Todd Hamilton defends the famous Claret Jug trophy he won last year at Royal Troon.

133 - Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 67 66

135 - John Wade (Aus) 68 67

136 - Robert Steele 67 69

Leven Links (par 71)

134 - Sean McDonough 70 64, * Eric Ramsey 66 68

135 - Tino Schuster (Germany) 70 65 (after playoff)

Lundin

130 - Lars Brovold (Norway) 66 64

133 - Brad Faxon (U.S.) 64 69, Oscar Floren (Swe) 68 65

Scotscraig

134 - Murray Urquhart 68 66

136 - Andrew Marshall 68 68, Lloyd Saltman 67 69

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