What if?................

[Wayne Freeman]

Did the golfing gods conspire against Tiger?  With the total meltdown of most of the field at Pinehurst Tiger would have had his 10th major and first come-from-behind victory if.......
the USGA hadn't held qualifying in the UK. Would Campbell even have tried to qualify for the tournament?  And if it is the U.    S.     Open why is there qualifying in the U.   K. anyway? Is there British Open qualifying in the U.S.?  
   

[Mike Benham]

Is there British Open qualifying in the U.S.?  

Yes there is, at least last year there was with the R&A bending over backward to have qualifying near the PGA Tour stop only to be slap-in-the-face by those bloody yanks who signed up to qualify and then withdrew at the 11th hour ...

[Philip Gawith]

Wayne - if the golfing gods conspired against Tiger some might argue it would be a welcome first.

[JohnV]

The R&A started qualifiying for the Open in the US last year.  Also, they have spots for the top non-exempt finisher at some events such as the John Deere Classic.  So, if Michelle Wie is the top non-exempt finisher there she would be in the Open at St. Andrews.

Both organizations are running overseas qualifiers because it was seen as a way to get some of the players who wouldn't fly all the way across just for a one-day qualifier.  Especially when it would mean having to miss an event on their home tour.

There are only sectional qualifiers held in Japan and Europe.  So, players who are not exempt from local qualifying still have to come to the US to get through the first stage and can then play the second stage over there.

[Dave_Miller]

Wayne - if the golfing gods conspired against Tiger some might argue it would be a welcome first.

Wayne:
Don't believe it was the golfing gods conspiring against Tiger but his putter just not working or maybe his putter conspiring against him .  36 putts on Saturday Just 32 and he wins.  
Tiger was very un-Tiger like down the stretch bogeying 16 & 17.
Best
Dave

[Sean_A]

Mike

It would seem the Europeans slapped back at the USGA.  Just over half of the competitors for qualifying at Walton Heath showed up.  I would like to see overseas qualifying stopped for both Opens.  If a guy can't be bothered to get on a plane to try and qualify for the two biggest Opens in the world, he won't be missed.  

Ciao

Sean

[McCloskey]

Dave
It seems that I recall that Tiger also bogeyed 17 and 18 at the Masters coming in.    He still won the tournament because of that most unlikely chip in after a terrible iron shot to 16.
The golfing gods are definitely on Tiger's side.   His game down the strectch just isn't too hot these days.

[Doug Braunsdorf]

Wayne-

  I seem to recall David Fay saying something about having qualifying in other countries to accomodate international players--this may have been on Saturday sometime.  

  Yes, the R&A has Open Championship qualifying in the U.S.  I hosted them at Congressional last summer.  Canoe Brook, just up the road from me in Summit, NJ, is hosting North American qualifying this year.  

[James Bennett]

I believe Kingston Heath recently (last year) hosted the Australian section of qualifying for The Open (British).

[Voytek Wilczak]

Mike

It would seem the Europeans slapped back at the USGA.  Just over half of the competitors for qualifying at Walton Heath showed up.  I would like to see overseas qualifying stopped for both Opens.  If a guy can't be bothered to get on a plane to try and qualify for the two biggest Opens in the world, he won't be missed.  

Ciao

Sean

Heck, even MCATs are given at overseas locations.

Seems like everyone wants a piece of a US dream, be it a US Open or a medical degree.

Are any French or British medical exams offered in the US?

I take it as a positive.

[tonyt]

Not only is there Open (British) qualifying in the US, there is also a nominated money list used from The Players Championship to the Western Open to make up a few more US based spots.

I agree with both Opens doing this, because it increases the quality of field for both. Never a bad thing for a major surely?