SUNNINGDALE, England -- Paraguay's Marco Ruiz and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen topped European qualifying Monday for next months British Open at Royal Liverpool.
An American qualifying tournament was also due to take place on Monday at Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C., but that was put back to Tuesday and cut from 36 to 18 holes because of weather problems that also wrecked the Booz Allen Classic at the nearby TPC at Avenel.
Ruiz and Oosthuizen had 8-under 132 totals on Sunningdale's Old and New courses. Ruiz had 67 on the Old and 65 on the New, and Oosthuizen shot two 66s.
Fourteen players at 3-under 137 or better qualified for the Open, while another four will earn places after a seven-man playoff to be held at 7:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Officials decided late in the day to award 18 spots instead of 15 from Sunningdale because of a delay in U.S. qualifying caused by the postponed finish of the rain-hit Booz Allen Classic. Twelve spots will be available in the U.S. qualifying, which has been reduced to one round at Congressional because of the delays.
Among the others grabbing spots in the field was English veteran Barry Lane. A professional for 30 years and one who knows what it's like to face Ryder Cup pressure, he still confessed to butterflies in his stomach on Monday night after two rounds of 68 had earned the 46-year-old Lane a first visit to Royal Liverpool.
"I can't believe how nervous I was the last couple of holes," he said. "I've been doing this all my life, but I still get a buzz. It means so much to play in the Open and I think it's terrible that some players don't take the opportunity to try to qualify for this or the U.S. Open."
European Ryder Cup Captain Ian Woosnam missed out for the second year running with his level-par total. The 48-year-old Welshman, third at Lytham five years ago after the drama of the two-shot penalty for having an extra club in his bag, was hoping for a 24th appearance in the Open.
He came up two shots short of the Tuesday morning playoff, while there was an even more agonizing near-miss for 17-year-old Oliver Fisher, who last August became the youngest player ever to appear in the Walker Cup.
At 903rd in the world, Fisher was originally the 14th alternate for the qualifier, but because of scratchings he was up to first alternate by Sunday night and set his alarm for 4:00 a.m. so he could arrive on time.
Upon his arrival, he was told there was a spot for him and after a 3-under morning 67 on the Old Course Fisher was only one off the lead. But in the worst of the weather, he fell back and a 72 for a 1-under aggregate that proved one too many after a long wait.
Lloyd Saltman of Scotland, who collected the silver medal as leading amateur for his 15th-place finish at St. Andrews last summer, failed in his bid to return. His fate was sealed by an opening 78.
Also among the prominent players failing to advance were PGA Tour player Jesper Parnevik of Sweden, 2005 European Tour Rookie of the Year Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain, Andrew Coltart of Scotland, Jarmo Sandelin of Sweden, Marc Cayeux of Zimbabwe, Peter O'Malley and Peter Senior of Australia, Raphael Jacquelin of France, Emanuele Canonica of Italy and Eduardo Romero of Argentina.
Lee Westwood, Greg Owen, Justin Rose and Brian Davis are among the entries for that, and if there is no play possible on Tuesday, the event will be cancelled and the 12 spots on offer awarded to the leading players in the world rankings.
The 14 players earning spots on Monday were: Louis Oosthuizen (132), Marco Ruiz (132), Richard Green (135), Sam Little (135), Mark Pilkington (135), Barry Lane (136), Carlos Rodiles (136), Simon Wakefield (136), Soren Kjeldsen (136), Jamie Donaldson (137), Peter Hedblom (137), Brett Rumford (137), Lee Slattery (137) and Phillip Price (137).
The seven players, who tied at 2-under 138, in the Tuesday playoff for four final places are: Richard Sterne, Darren Fichardt, James Hepworth, Graeme McDowell, Alessandro Tadini, Simon Dyson and Robert Rock.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press and PA Sport.
