Love books Birkdale date

Beem and Stadler also advance, but Ferrie, Owen and Chopra miss out

Last updated: 7th July 2008

davis love

Love III: Came through play-off

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Davis Love III has cemented his place at the Open Championship for a 22nd consecutive year after coming through a play-off in the American qualifiers in Michigan.

Love, winner of the USPGA in 1997, was one of five players to finish on nine-under after 36 holes at Dearborn Hills Golf Course but held his nerve to claim one of the remaining four spots on offer.

"They've only got four majors and it's important to get in them," said Love afterwards. "It's the oldest tournament in the world, so I'm excited."

Rich Beem, 2002 USPGA champion, also progressed from the play-off, as did Kevin Stadler, son of former Masters champion Craig, and Craig Barlow - Ian Steel was the man to miss out.

Paul Goydos, who lost out in a play-off to Sergio Garcia at the Players Championship earlier in the season, won the event at Dearborn on 13-under-par with rounds of 65 and 66 to seal a first Open appearance, with Doug Labelle II and Michael Letzig taking the other two of the seven spots on offer.

A delighted Goydos stated: "It's disappointing not to have played in it thus far. Probably other than winning, this was my number one goal this year.

"I want to play in the British Open. That's where history is."

Another seven places were up for grabs at TPC Michigan where 25-year-old Jeff Overton was the star of the show, winning by six after rounds of 63 and 67.

"I've never made it into a major, so I'm incredibly excited," the American said after his impressive showing. "I haven't been playing very well this year, but today was the kind of day that you always dream about. This is how you want to play every day."

John Rollins, Tim Petrovic, Matt Kuchar, Scott McCarron and German Alex Cejka also advanced, while Tom Gillis birdied the first extra hole to win a five-way play-off for the seventh and final spot.

Swede Freddie Jacobson was one of the men to miss out in the play-off, while compatriot Daniel Chopra and Englishmen Kenneth Ferrie and Greg Owen also failed to progress from the field, the English duo not even competing the 36 holes.