Pampling and Marino plug the gaps

in Open championship field

Australian Rod Pampling and American Steve Marino both received call-ups to the Open today – and now 2002 runner-up Thomas Levet hopes he might be playing as well.
First Marino replaced Shingo Katayama after the Japanese player withdrew with an upper back injury.Then Pampling, the next highest-ranked player in the world to have entered the Open, took the place that became vacant when no non-exempt player finished in the top five of the Barclays Scottish Open.
Ten years ago at Carnoustie, Pampling made championship history when he led after an opening 71 and then missed the cut after a second round 86.
"Thankfully I've been back there and rectified that," he said after finishing 20th at Loch Lomond. He was 27th three years ago.
"I was trying to play my way in this week. That didn't work out, but I knew I'd become first reserve and now I'm in.
"Thankfully I entered for the tournament. Maybe some other guys didn't know the rules."His compatriot Aaron Baddeley and American Pat Perez, Kevin Na and Mark Wilson were all passed over for spots because they had either not filed entry forms or had withdrawn from qualifying.
Levet, who lost a five-hole play-off to Ernie Els at Muirfield, knew there was a good chance of him playing on Thursday.
One spot was also up for grabs on the US Tour, Englishman Ross Fisher's wife is expecting a baby on Tuesday and Indian Jeev Milkha Singh is thought to be battling with a rib injury.
Fisher flew home from Scotland tonight to be with his wife, but had plans to be at Turnberry on Tuesday if there was no sign of the baby coming.
*The full article contains 294 words and appears in scotsman.com newspaper.