MARCUS Fraser will play in his third US Open after qualifying at a happy hunting ground of the New Course at Walton Heath Golf Club in England early yesterday.
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The 36-year-old qualified for his two previous US Opens at the same course.
Corowa golf’s favourite son fired rounds of 69 and 70 to finish five-under the card to get himself into a five-way play-off for the final four spots.
A birdie at the first play-off hole was enough to book his spot at Chambers Bay.
The 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath followed Fraser’s tie for 27th at the BMW tournament at Wentworth, also in Surrey, on Sunday.
The Washington course is a first-time venue for the US Open and, unlike its contemporaries, doesn’t have a tree on the entire course.
It will also be the first time Fraser competes in a US Open outside of Pennsylvania — having finished T45 at Oakmont in 2007 and missing the cut at Merion two years ago.
Fraser’s post round tweet was succinct — “You bloody beauty!”
Six Australians teed up in the European Sectional Qualifying, with Andrew Dodt the next best-placed Aussie behind Fraser.
Dodt, who earned back his European Tour card via qualifying school this year, has already cemented his place on the Tour with a win but a Major debut wasn’t to be as he finished two shots outside of the play-off.
Meanwhile, fellow Aussie Kurt Barnes had a memorable 34th birthday when he qualified for the major through the Asian tour.
It took Barnes two play-off holes in Japan, before a birdie ensured his place at Chambers Bay.
