Why 'long shot' is worth it for 150th Open qualifying hopefuls next week

Dreams can come true. Just ask the five players who’d come through qualifiers to sit in the top six after the opening round of the 122nd US Open at The Country Club in Brookline on Thursday night.

It won’t really matter where they finish up in the season’s third major because it was already a triumph just being part of that event in the suburbs of Boston. As will be the case for anyone who emulates that feat in the 150th Open.

Through a Qualifying Series, a number of players have already secured spots in the milestone event at St Andrews next month, but the biggest and most exciting battle is about to get underway.

Regional Qualifying takes place on Monday and, with a whopping 1,900 entries - the original figure had exceeded 2,000 but has dropped following withdrawals - two additional venues have been added to the 13 that had already been lined up for 18-hole shoot-outs by the R&A.

The majority of the Scottish hopefuls will be at Panmure as the Angus club hosts the first stage for a fifth and final time, with numerous others flying the Saltire just south of the border at Goswick in Northumberland.

Players successful at all the various venues around the UK and Ireland will progress to Final Qualifying, which takes place on Tuesday week at four courses - at Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links.

The odds of making it all the way to the first tee at St Andrews in the middle of next month may be slim, but, due to the significance of this year’s event and where it’s being held, it’s attracted a wide spectrum of dreamers.

“I snuck a late entry in,” said Andrew Crerar, laughing, of deciding to try his luck at Panmure, where he’s been the head professional for the past 15 years. “If there was ever one