NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R AND A

KARLSSON, HOEY AND RIU SECURE 

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP PLACES

Robert Karlsson of Sweden, Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland and France’s Victor Riu secured places in the 143^rd Open Championship at the Alstom Open de France at Le Golf National near Paris today.

Karlsson, Hoey and Riu will join winner Graeme McDowell in the field for golf’s oldest and most international Major Championship when it is played at Royal Liverpool from 17-20 July. The Alstom Open de France is part of the Open Qualifying Series which gives players from the world’s leading Tours a chance to qualify for The Open.

Karlsson is a veteran links competitor and is set to make his 17^th Open appearance since 1989. The 44-year-old delivered his best result in 1992 when he tied for fifth at Muirfield and is looking forward to playing his second Open at Hoylake.

“I have a nice collection of Open players’ badges and I have really good memories from Hoylake in 2006. It’s a very nice golf course and it looks like it won’t be as dry as when we played there last time but if the wind is up it’s going to be very difficult,” said Karlsson, who has won eleven times on the European Tour.

McDowell’s successful defence of his Alstom Open de France title coupled with Hoey’s Open qualification made it a notable day for Northern Irish golf.
Hoey, from Belfast, is a former Amateur Champion (2001) and has twice played in The Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2001 and 2012.
He believes his experience playing links golf helped him deal with the wet and windy conditions this week at Le Golf National.

“It was like playing in Northern Ireland and was really wild at one stage so it was a nice preparation for The Open,” said Hoey, who finished seventh in the tournament at one-under par.

“I played the Amateur Championship at Hoylake in 2000 and I’m looking forward to going back.  I have grown up playing courses like Royal Portrush and Royal County Down so playing the links means a lot to me. I remember growing up watching The Open every summer and of all the Majors it’s the closest to home.”

Riu had the support of the home crowd throughout the tournament and was delighted to earn one of the qualifying places on offer at his national Open. The 29-year-old finished 8^th and will make his Major Championship debut at Royal Liverpool.

“For me, The Open is the most beautiful tournament in the world. I played the Boys Amateur at Hoylake when I was younger and I really like the course so I am very excited to be able to play.”

The next events in The Open Qualifying Series, which comprises 14 events in nine countries on five continents, are the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on the European Tour from Thursday to Sunday this coming week at Royal Aberdeen GC.

For more information visit TheOpen.com