This Qualifies as Must-Try Event

Jerry Kelly has survived the British Open, which might be considered unusual since it doesn’t start until today.

But for Kelly, it started on Monday at nearby Western Gailes, where he qualified for his first British Open.

It was no small feat for Kelly, 30, a second-year PGA Tour pro from Madison, Wis. He was one of a small, brave group of 32 U.S. players not exempt for the Open trying to qualify in a 36-hole competition held at four local courses.

Nine made it: Kelly, Tom Purtzer, Andrew Magee, Glen Day, Ken Duke, Scott Dunlap, Chris Perry, John Kernohan, Peter Teravainen. Some were not so fortunate. Larry Mize, Donnie Hammond and Paul Goydos were among those who failed to qualify.

Kelly shot 70-67 in windy and rainy conditions, which actually suited him fine.

“Just a typical day in Wisconsin,” he said.

It’s not an easy path to travel from the U.S. to Scotland with no guarantee of being able to play in the Open, but Kelly said it was worth the financial risk, even if players such as Jeff Sluman and Fuzzy Zoeller didn’t.

“I know some guys don’t make the trip, but I think it’s important,” Kelly said. “This is golf’s oldest championship. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about playing in.”

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Now that he is a two-time winner this year and the U.S. Open champion, Ernie Els said he is a different player.

“My whole game, my mental attitude, I want to say I am a lot different,” he said. “I think I’ve proved that at the U.S. Open when I came down the stretch. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation like that, where so many golf shots meant so much to me.

“One mistake and you’re out of the championship, as Tom Lehman and Colin Montgomerie will tell you. To come through that experience obviously changes your mind set.”

Of course, Els made a couple of mistakes at Royal Lytham in last year’s British Open that cost him, so he knows what he’s talking about.

In the final round, Els chipped in at the 12th, birdied the 13th and the 15th, but then bogeyed the 16th and 18th when he drove into fairway bunkers.

He tied for second with Mark McCumber, two shots behind Lehman.

“It took me a while to get over it,” he said. “But you know, second is not a bad tournament.”

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As Davis Love III was on the putting green, some young fans asked him for his autograph.

“Do you know who I am?” Love asked.

You’re Davis Love, the youngsters said.

“Nope,” Love said. “Tiger Woods.”

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Woods said he has had numerous death threats, but he hasn’t hired a bodyguard. The closest he came to being injured was after a practice round at the Phoenix Open when he said he stumbled and an autograph-seeker’s ballpoint pen cut him near his eye.

“It can get hairy at times,” Woods said.

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According to Ladbrokes, a British wagering agency, Woods is a 6-1 favorite to win the Open.

Other odds: Montgomerie and Els at 10-1, Lehman and Greg Norman at 12-1, Nick Faldo and Nick Price at 16-1, and Love and Steve Elkington at 33-1.