Eight Irishmen hoping for happy Mondays in Open and US Open qualifiers

Paul McGinley got a late call up for IFQ for the Open at Sunningdale Old and New today. Credit: www.golffile.ieEight Irishmen - four on each a side of the Atlantic - will bid for their places in final qualifying events for the next two majors today.

Paul McGinley got a late call up to join Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey and Gareth Maybin in International Final Qualifying for July’s Open Championship as part of a 96-man field seeking just 10 places at Royal St George’s in July.

McGinley, 43, was a reserve for the event at Sunningdale because he is ranked 551st in the world. However, he earned his place to thanks to the late withdrawal of fellow Dubliner Peter Lawrie after his wife gave birth to the couple’s fourth child - and first son - on Friday night.

The odds on the Sunningdale four making it to Sandwich are quite good compared to the lesser known Irish quartet battling for places in Sectional Qualifying for next week’s US Open.

Waterford amateur Kevin Phelan, a surprise qualifier for Pebble Beach last year, tees it up at Vero Beach in Florida where 56 players will battle for just three places in the field at Congressional Country Club near Washington DC.

Kerry native Sean Quinlivan is in action at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey, where 83 players will fight it out for four US Open place over two rounds.

Ballymena’s Chris Devlin, a close friend of former UAB college team mate Graeme McDowell, will bid to qualify for his second US Open in the space of three years when he competes at Springfield Country Club in Ohio as one of 34 players gunning for two spots.

In Texas, Ulsterman Fergal Rafferty goes at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course as one of 71 players fighting for four spots.