Peter Appleyard win be playing for the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale

Sevenoaks golfer Peter Appleyard will relish playing alongside the world's best after qualifying for the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The professional from the Wildernesse Golf Club in west Kent had to survive a play-off to win his place in the major.

Appleyard told BBC Radio Kent: "It hasn't sunk in yet, it's been amazing, I've had so many phone calls.

"We'll see what happens, I'm going to go there and enjoy it, have fun and see what happens."

Appleyard, who plays on the Euro-pro Tour says he has had to pull out of a tournament next week to play in the Open, though he described the tour as being 'very understanding'.

He played at Royal Birkdale as an amateur.

Appleyard commented: "It's changed quite considerably since then, it's longer and there's some new bunkering and a new green on the 17th so it should be fun."