![\"CHON](\"images\/golf\/CHON_BURI_THAILAND_141214_OPEN_QUALIFIERS.jpg\")
Chonburi, Thailand: Marcus Fraser narrowly missed out on claiming his first win since 2010 at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday, but his disappointment was largely offset by the knowledge that he had qualified for The Open at St Andrews next year.<\/p>\n
The Australian, who finished tied second alongside Martin Kaymer, a shot behind winner Lee Westwood, earned one of four places in the game\u2019s oldest Major that were up for grabs at the Thailand Golf Championship, which forms part of the Open Qualifying Series.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I came up here \u2013 to try and get one of those sports at The Open at St Andrews next year, so it\u2019s great, I\u2019m excited,\u201d said Fraser, who bogeyed Amata Spring Country Club\u2019s demanding 18th hole to miss the opportunity of forcing a play-off with Englishman Westwood.<\/p>\n
Fraser\u2019s fellow countryman Scott Hend (fifth), India\u2019s Anirban Lahiri and Jonathan Moore of the United States (tied sixth) were the other non-exempt players to earn their places in the field at the Home of Golf in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Open at St Andrews in 2005 was the first Major I ever played,\u201d said Fraser, who has been out of the game for most of the year due to a hand injury. \u201cI remember I was jumping out of my skin on the first tee, but hopefully I\u2019ll be a bit calmer next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to getting back to The Open. It\u2019s my favourite tournament \u2013 it\u2019s the best tournament in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Long-hitting Hend, who won the Hong Kong Open in October to earn his European Tour card for next season, was equally effusive about winning his ticket to Scotland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very excited. I was thinking more about the four spots in The Open [than winning the tournament]. It created a bit more pressure because I really wanted desperately to play in another Open. It\u2019s awesome,\u201d said Hend, whose caddie is former Australian pro Tony Carolan.<\/p>\n
\u201c2005 at St Andrews was my one and only Open and I\u2019m really excited to have a crack again.
\u201cIt\u2019s the Home of Golf. Of course you\u2019d like to be a Major Champion but if you could possibly win The Open at St Andrews, that\u2019s just the cherry on the cake. It\u2019s the best accomplishment for all professional golfers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unlike Fraser and Hend, the in-form Lahiri, who claimed the Venetian Macau Open in October, has never played the Old Course at St Andrews and is relishing the opportunity provided by the Open Qualifying Series. This will be his second appearance at The Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a kid, I didn\u2019t watch too much golf but I always watched The Open at St Andrews,\u201d said Lahiri, who is currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. \u201cYou see all of the things on television that you dream of experiencing for yourself, like the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole Bunker. You hear all the stories and legends, but to be there in person will be something very special.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moore, who was playing on a sponsor\u2019s invitation at the Thailand Golf Championship, played at St Andrews at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2007.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t even think I\u2019d have a chance to try and qualify for The Open next year and now that I\u2019m going, it\u2019s incredible,\u201d said Moore, whose wife Claire, who caddied for him in Thailand, is pregnant with the couple\u2019s first child.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy wife is due May 22nd, so there\u2019s plenty of time to have the baby and come over to The Open.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chonburi, Thailand: Marcus Fraser narrowly missed out on claiming his first win since 2010 at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday, but his disappointment was largely offset by the knowledge that he had qualified for The Open at St Andrews next year.<\/p>\n
The Australian, who finished tied second alongside Martin Kaymer, a shot behind winner Lee Westwood, earned one of four places in the game\u2019s oldest Major that were up for grabs at the Thailand Golf Championship, which forms part of the Open Qualifying Series.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why I came up here \u2013 to try and get one of those sports at The Open at St Andrews next year, so it\u2019s great, I\u2019m excited,\u201d said Fraser, who bogeyed Amata Spring Country Club\u2019s demanding 18th hole to miss the opportunity of forcing a play-off with Englishman Westwood.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-golf-golf"],"yoast_head":"\n