McKnight closes in on Open spot

By mbeardmore

WHITTINGTON Heath Golf Club's Jarred McKnight heads to Scotland this week just 36 holes away from a place in the Open – and believing he is in the form of his life.

McKnight will take his place in the Final Qualifying Round at Gailes Links in Glasgow on Monday and Tuesday after making the top ten in the regional qualifying competition at Enville, near Stourbridge.

And the 24-year-old amateur – who has claimed the prestigious Beau Desert Stag and Finham Bowl titles recently – hopes to claim one of the four spots available for the Open at Turnberry from a field of 96 starters.

He told Mercury Sport: "I've got to the final qualifiers before, two years ago, but I think I'm much more mature now and ready to take the chance.

"I'm feeling quite confident and think getting one of the top four places is definitely do-able.

"I got off to a dodgy start at Enville and was two-over after six holes but I birdied three of the next four and shot one under.

"It's a case of having to go out there and be aggressive as you can – you can't qualify after the first round but you can your way out of the tournament.

"There's no point going there to shoot level par and aim for a respectable finish.

"Top five is no good, it's not like any other tournament in that respect – it's about first, second, third and fourth so you have to play to win.

"It's everybody's dream to play at the Open and maybe make the cut – and that would open up a huge number of doors for me.

"If you go all the way and win the Silver Medal (awarded to the top amateur at the Open) then you could get a Walker Cup spot.

"The European Tour is my eventual goal and I'm looking to join the Tour School at the end of the year depending on how the rest of the season goes.

"I've been playing golf at this level for quite some time now and personally I feel I'm ready to go further."

McKnight has the perfect person to turn to for advice as well – his coach Simon Vale, who qualified for the Open back in 2001.

McKnight added: "Simon has been there before and he was a prolific winner as a professional.

"He's been around the block and gives me great advice, plus I can draw from my past experience of playing in the qualifiers.

"The last time I made the finals in 2007 at West Lancs, I missed out by three shots but I had a quad bogey on the first day and that cost me."

There was disappointment for Danny Taylor of Swingers Golf Club who missed out on qualification for the finals by three shots with a round of 74 at Coventry.