Simon Khan Qualifies for U.S. Open at Walton Heath

Simon Khan bounced back from losing the BMW PGA Championship in a playoff to qualify for the U.S. Open.

The Englishman, who lost a four-hole playoff to Matteo Manassero at Wentworth on Sunday, qualified in first place Monday by shooting a 5-under 67 on the Old Course and 2-under 70 on the New Course.

"Yesterday I did everything I could to try and win. I don't think I could have done anything differently," said Khan, who has reached the U.S. Open three times in eight straight years of qualifying. "I only slept for about a half-an-hour last night (with the loss) going over in my head. And I even thought about pulling out, but this is my job.

"But it's just brilliant I'm going to Merion. I don't know much about the course. All I know is (Ben) Hogan's famous picture at the last, which is iconic."

Three-time Ryder Cup player Paul Casey and Jaco Van Zyl of South Africa are also through to the second major of the year after qualifying a stroke back to tie for second.

Jose Maria Olazabal, Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain last year, was among the other qualifiers.

It's the first time Casey has competed in qualifying for a major in his 13-year pro career, but the Englishman has slipped to 157th in the world rankings. He will make his 10th U.S. Open appearance.

"To qualify for the U.S. Open is great because, for me, it's right up there as one of the two most important golf tournaments we play in the world," Casey said. "And while I am putting the (British) Open championship up there on top, America's national Open championship is right up there.

"I don't know much about Merion, so I will have to do my homework — and I'm just ecstatic. But now that I have got through the qualifier there is no reason why you can't compete in the U.S. Open, and Michael Campbell showed that when he qualified here in 2005 and then won at Pinehurst."

Australia's Marcus Fraser, England's Eddie Pepperell, Sweden's Peter Hedblom and Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen qualified next.

There were six players tied for the five remaining spots, forcing a playoff. Olazabal, David Howell and John Parry made birdies on the first extra hole to take three berths.

Scotland's Chris Doak and Argentina's Estanislao Goya took the last two slots after three more playoff holes, with Sweden's Rikard Karlberg missing out.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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