Ex-U.S. Am champ Kuchar wins British Open qualifier

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Matt Kuchar fired an 8-under 63 in the International Final Qualifying. Will he make the field at the British Open?

PLANO, Texas -- Matt Kuchar earned a fifth visit to the British Open Monday after shooting 13-under-par (63-66--129) at the United States' 36-hole International Final Qualifying for the 2009 British Open.

The 6,856-yard, par-71 Queens Course at the Gleneagles Country Club hosted the event to determine eight qualifiers from the 78 who began the day. Those successful advanced to the 138th British Open at Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland on July 16-19.

Jeff Overton finished second at 11 under par.

Martin Laird posted 10-under 132 late in the day to join Fredrik Jacobson, Davis Love III, James Driscoll, Richard S. Johnson and Tim Wilkinson on that score and no playoff was required.

Seven players finished tied for ninth at 9 under.

"I practiced here on Tuesday and my caddie is from here," said Kuchar, the 1997 U.S Amateur champion. "Course knowledge only takes you so far. It really helps if you hit it where you're aiming. Fortunately, I've been hitting it really well."

Turnberry was one of many courses Kuchar played in 1998 when he was on the Walker Cup team that visited Great Britain that year.

"I'm excited to go back," said the 30-year-old. "It's a spectacular venue. I've never made a cut there (in four starts) but I sure do enjoy going and giving it the good old American try."

This is Kuchar's second time at a British Open qualifier in the United States. He also tried once in the United Kingdom as an amateur.

"It's never a joy doing it but I've had decent success," said Kuchar.

Overton played the eight par-5 holes 10 under for the day with three eagles, four birdies and one par.

"I missed two five-footers and had three balls in the water but I was able to recover really well," said Overton, who finished tied for 70th at the 2008 British Open after winning the qualifier last year in Michigan. "I really don't think I could play any better. Everything else was going my way. I made a couple of 15-footers from nowhere."

Love will make his 23rd consecutive start at the Open after finishing in the first group of the day and waiting for two hours to see if he would make it.

"I'm a little disappointed not to get it in lower the way I drove it," said Love, unsure if 10 under was going to be successful at the time. "It's my favorite major -- the way they set up the course and the tradition. It's certainly the one where I feel like I have a real good chance to be competitive."

Johnson got his day off to a slow start with six consecutive pars in the first round before playing the next 21 holes in 12 under. Johnson played his last nine holes in 2 over and thought he had blown his chance.

"If I didn't get in I could defend in Milwaukee instead so it's a good spot to be in," said Johnson, referring to his victory at the 2008 U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. "I made one bad swing on my last hole and was unfortunate to make bogey but I'm playing great. I've never played an Open. It's going to be really nice."

Driscoll, who lost to Zach Johnson in a playoff two weeks ago at the Valero Texas Open, will make his first British Open appearance, along with Wilkinson, Laird and Johnson. In fact, Wilkinson, a left-hander from New Zealand, will be playing in his first major championship. Sir Bob Charles, a fellow left-handed Kiwi, won the Open in 1963.

Jacobson posted a bogey-free 7-under 64 and recorded just one bogey in 36 holes.

Laird, who will play in his first Open just 45 minutes from where he grew up in Glasgow, was relieved there was no playoff.

"I've never even played a professional event in Scotland," said Laird. "I've only played the Nationwide and PGA TOUR. This is going to be great."

Alex Cejka, the first-round co-leader, and D.A Points, who finished third at last week's HP Byron Nelson Championship, were paired together. Both faded in the second round, failing to advance to Turnberry.

NOTES: James Driscoll eagled the par-5 eighth hole in both rounds. ... Robert Garrigus made three eagles in round one at Nos. 8, 14 and 16, including a hole-out from 126 yards with a wedge for eagle at the par-4 14th hole. ... Ben Crane, at No. 53, was the player with the highest Official World Golf Ranking in the event. ... This was the sixth time the Open qualifying tournament has been held in the United States although this is the first in Texas. ... International Qualifying tournaments have already been held in Africa, Australia and Asia, with a final one to be held in England on June 8. ... Matt Bettencourt was disqualified after the first round and five players did not start the second round (Scott Piercy, Scott Gutschewski, Ewan Porter, Bob Estes, Tag Ridings).