
“Am I ever gonna get this chance again? Probably not.”
That was the thought Graeme Robertson was desperately trying to keep at bay as he aimed to maintain his focus and secure qualification for The 151st Open.
Nineteen players booked their places at Royal Liverpool through Final Qualifying on Tuesday, with Robertson joining Michael Stewart, Marco Penge and Connor McKinney in making it through at Dundonald Links on Scotland’s west coast.
Yet Robertson had to fight harder than anyone else to earn his spot. It was not until the fifth hole of a nerve-jangling play-off had been completed – his 41st hole of a gruelling day – that he could finally celebrate the most significant achievement of his golfing career.
“I was trying not to think about [qualifying for The Open], but I just kept thinking about it all the way round and how much it would mean to get in, so it’s brilliant,” said the Scot.
Now 35, Robertson enjoyed considerable success as an amateur player, but he only turned professional in 2021 – having worked as a sales person in the building trade for several years.
“I didn't stop playing golf, but I worked full-time and didn't play a lot and then the last couple of years I've actually come back to the game and started my PGA training,” he explained.
“If you'd said to me three or four years ago this was going to happen, when I was sitting behind a computer desk 7:30 to 5, Monday to Friday, I wouldn’t have believed it. Honestly, I can't even put it into words."
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