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Friday May 29, 2009

Casey, Sabbatini seal US Open places

NEW YORK: Britain’s Paul Casey, who won his third title of the year at the European Tour’s PGA Championship on Sunday, was among 12 players to earn a place in next month’s US Open after this week’s rankings cut-off point.

Casey, whose one-shot victory at Wentworth lifted him to a career-high number three in the world rankings, comfortably qualified for the year’s second major by staying inside the top 50 for this week.

Englishman Casey, who began the year 41st in the world, will compete in his sixth US Open at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale, New York from June 18-21.

South African Rory Sabbatini also booked his place at Bethpage through the world rankings, his victory on Sunday at the PGA Tour’s Byron Nelson Championship lifting him to 27th.

Britons Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, Australian Adam Scott, Spaniards Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Alvaro Quiros and US trio Sean O’Hair, David Toms and Nick Watney also earned spots by being in the world’s top 50.

Further exemptions for Bethpage will be available in sectional qualifying at 13 venues in the US on June 8.

The US Open will be held for the second time on Bethpage’s Black Course where world number one Tiger Woods will defend the title he won last year in a playoff at Torrey Pines. — Reuters

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