Nick Dougherty, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Graeme McDowell all qualified for The Open at the qualifiers in Sunningdale but Ian Woosnam missed out.

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• Controversy at qualifiers

Irishman McDowell topped the 36 hole process by two shots after shooting rounds of 67 and 64 with Jimenez , Dougherty and Swede Peter Hanson a further shot back.

"I think I have the right mind-set for these qualifiers," McDowell said. "Some of the guys go out and try to play very aggressively, I play very conservatively.

"I try and take my birdie chances when I get them. You need a lot of mental stamina to get through these 36-holers and I feel like I'm in the top 25 percent in mental stamina."

Ross Fisher, Peter Baker and Scot Alastair Forsyth were also among the qualifiers.

However, the day was riddled with controversy after eight players were forced to replay the fourth hole on the Old Course after a difficult pin position was changed.

Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed saw his par turn into a double bogey after that decision but still managed to qualify for the event.

Former Masters champion Ian Woosnam produced solid rounds of 69 71 but while that wasn't enough to qualify him, it was an encouraging sign given that the Ryder Cup winning captain has failed to complete a tour event this year due to post-viral fatigue syndrome.

Other big names to miss out on qualification include former Ryder Cup player Phillip Price and eurosport.yahoo.com blogger Kenneth Ferrie.

The British Open will be held at the Scottish course of Carnoustie from July 19-22.

Qualifiers

131 Graeme McDowell 67 64

133 Peter Hanson (Swe) 68 65, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 66 67, Nick Dougherty 64 69

134 Ross Fisher 70 64

135 Alastair Forsyth 65 70, Gregory Bourdy (Fra) 67 68, Oliver Wilson 68 67, Benn Barham 67 68

136 Mattias Eliasson (Swe) 70 66, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 66, Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe) 68 68, David Frost (SA) 70 66, Mark Foster 66 70, Jose-Filipe Lima (Por) 64 72, Peter Baker 68 68

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