Jamie Donaldson is looking for more last-minute Open Qualifying heroics
Jamie Donaldson qualified for The Open Championship at the last minute in 2022, finishing tied for sixth at the Scottish Open on a packed leaderboard of the world’s best players.
Last year’s Open at St Andrews was a special one. Most players would’ve wanted to play in the 150th edition of golf’s oldest major, but the importance of qualifying for this year’s tournament isn’t lost on Donaldson either.
The Welshman is due to play at West Lancashire on Tuesday with Sergio Garcia and Matthew Jordan in Final Open Qualifying, and he’s looking to use home comforts and previous experience from the venue to earn a spot at Hoylake
“That’s another one that’s close to home (The Open), so I would love to play there too,” Donaldson said at the Betfred British Masters. “I do really want to be playing at The Open.”
“I’ve played a lot at West Lancashire. Only in knockabouts, that kind of thing. It’s a really good track.
“If you’re playing with your mates and you want to go and play somewhere decent that’s close by, we’ll go on to the coast and play somewhere like West Lancashire which is a real good test of golf.
“Formby is awesome, West Lancashire is awesome. Hillside, Birkdale, Hoylake. They are all great, so whenever we get the chance, we go and play there.”
The Welshman’s best finish at The Open was a tied 32nd finish at Muirfield in 2013, one year before etching his name in Ryder Cup folklore by securing the winning point for Europe at Gleneagles.
He has an entry at the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club for similar last-second measures to 12 months ago – but four spots are up for grabs on Merseyside on July 4.
Graeme McDowell, Mito Pereira, Aaron Wise, Tom McKibbin, Victor Dubuisson, and Matt Wallace are in the same 36-hole field as Donaldson.
Royal Cinque Ports, Royal Porthcawl, and Dundonald Links are also hosting Final Open Qualifying, with a number of players competing who’ve already advanced through Regional Qualifying last month.
NOW READ: Which LIV Golf players have entered Final Open Qualifying?
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
