 Owen is enjoying a successful first season in the US |
Mansfield's Greg Owen has renewed his attack on the Royal and Ancient Club after he was denied a spot in the Open. Bob Tway replaced Billy Mayfair as the next highest non-exempt player on the world rankings but Owen, Jeff Maggert and Arron Oberholser were ahead of him.
They were overlooked after they pulled out of last week's US qualifying event.
"We are professional golfers trying to make a living and we are relying on people making decisions who should not be making them," said Owen.
"They sit there and discuss it over a glass of port and then make it law," he added.
Owen's decision not to play in the qualifier meant he was deemed to have pulled out of the Open as a whole.
"We spend all our career trying to earn world ranking points to get into
these majors and the world championships and to skip somebody because I pulled out of the qualifier to come and support my home tour is just disgraceful."
If Owen had gone to the qualifier, hit one shot and retired then he would have been given a place at St Andrews next week.
"That's the stupid thing about it. They don't ask you to complete
the two rounds. They just ask you to tee it up. They would have been upset if I'd done that. You just can't please them.
 Owen is furious not to be playing at St Andrews next week |
"I'm just trying to improve myself and go forward in my career and you get brick walls built up all over the place. I just wish something could have been done about it."
European Tour director of operations David Garland has tried to help Owen and said: "They have taken a very tough line and are standing by their decision.
"It's their championship, but we try on behalf of all our members to get the
fairest treatment. They feel their position is right and proper, but we will
continue lobbying."
But Royal and Ancient Club spokesman Stewart McDougall said: "This has been the position all along.
"It happened with David Frost last year after he did not play in the international final qualifying tournament in South Africa and it remains the case."
Owen's only hope of making the Open now is to be the leading player not already qualified in this week's Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
The 33-year-old is leading the race to be the US Tour's Rookie of the Year this season after an amazing recovery from back surgery.
Former USPGA champion Tway has endured a mixed season so far this year, with three top 10 finishes as well as four missed cuts in 16 events, plus a lowly 78th position at the US Open.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
It's rubbish from the Royal and Ancient