Among those names each year there are usually a few you might recognize. Don’t worry, we’ve done the hard work for you. But first…
How does Open Regional Qualifying work?
Demand was so high this year that The R&A had to add a new venue – Chart Hills in Kent – to the Open Regional Qualifying roster for Birkdale.
The host venues are:
Bearwood Lakes
Caldy
Chart Hills
Craigielaw
Enville
Ferndown
Fulford
Gog Magog
Hesketh
Kilmarnock
Lindrick
Minchinhampton
Moor Park
North Hants
Rochester & Cobham Park
The Island
Each of the 16 events will be played over 18 holes on June 22, with the successful golfers from each moving on to Final Qualifying, which takes place over 36 holes across four venues, on June 30.
Which players are we likely to recognize at Open Regional Qualifying?
If you’re having a look through the draw, you’ll certainly be familiar with a player or two from their European Tour days – Robert Dinwiddie, Zane Scotland, Jack Singh-Brar and Oliver Farr to name but four.
In no particular order, other than alphabetical, here are nine other players worth keeping an eye on for various reasons…
Olin Browne (Moor Park)
What a career this guy had. He won three times on the PGA Tour – including the Greater Hartford Open (now the Travelers Championship), the MasterCard Colonial (now the Charles Schwab Challenge), and the Deutsche Bank Championship (two years before it became part of the FedEx Cup Playoffs). The American has also won twice on the Champions Tour, including the US Senior Open. But, for reasons I am now desperate to find out, he never played in our Open. Maybe, at the age of 67, this is finally his time.
George Bryan (Hesketh)
You may know this pro golfer turned content creator as one half of the Bryan Bros YouTube duo, which he co-hosts with his younger brother and PGA Tour winner, Wesley.
Jimmy Bullard (Rochester & Cobham Park)
After semi-successful careers in soccer and television, this cheeky chappy has worked out that YouTube is where the money is to be made. If there’s a golf tournament being played, you can bet your life that he’s putting his name in the hat.
Peter Finch (Lindrick)
Speaking of which, Finch is one of the OG YouTubers on the UK scene. He made it through to Final Qualis last year. Can he go one step further this time?
Colin Fleming (Kilmarnock)
British tennis fans will certainly know Fleming. Now 41, the Scot has swapped his racket for a set of irons after a doubles career that yielded eight titles and three grand slam quarterfinals alongside the likes of Andy Murray, among others.
Trey Niven (North Hants)
Another PGA professional who has made a name for himself on social media. Niven is probably better known for being involved in Sky Sports’ attempt to appeal to younger audiences at The Open each year, but he’ll be hoping to play this time around.
Peter Odemwingie (Enville)
Some of you will know him as the Nigerian soccer star who played in the English Premier League for several years, as well as his national team on 65 occasions. Some of you will know that he’s now a qualified PGA professional. Some of you will have never heard of him.
Peter Odemwingie once made the headlines for driving to QPR trying to seal a transfer – now he wants to be known for his driving on the course. ⛳
The former Premier League striker is aiming to become a professional golfer to emulate some of his heroes! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cbVDAHVO09
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) February 4, 2020
Robert Rock (Enville)
I could have included him in the list of former European Tour players a few inches north of here but gets promoted for staring down Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to win the 2012 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship alone. The Englishman has played in eight Opens down the years – including a T7 at St Andrews in 2010.
Rick Shiels (Caldy)
Last but not least, the biggest name of them all. Is he still at LIV Golf? We think so. But one thing’s for sure, he is still golf’s No. 1 YouTuber, holding off Bryson DeChambeau – for now – in top spot.
You can follow all the action from Open Regional Qualifying on The Open website.