Wood is now exempt from qualifying for the 2009 Open

English amateur Chris Wood has turned professional following his impressive performance at the Open.

The 20-year-old, who finished joint fifth to take the silver medal at Royal Birkdale, has signed for the International Sports Management group.

"Royal Birkdale was the best week of my life," said Wood, who will now receive invitations for the European Tour.

"Now I am looking forward to an equally exciting and successful future in the professional ranks."

Wood becomes a stablemate of Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley, David Howell and the 2007 Open silver medal winner Rory McIlroy.

The 6ft 5in Bristolian will hope he does not follow the immediate path of Justin Rose, who as a 17-year-old amateur finished in a tie for fourth place in the 1998 Open at Birkdale, turned professional and then missed 21 cuts in a row.

He is an extremely talented and likeable young man and proved at the Open that he can perform at the highest level ISM managing director Andrew Chandler

"I played with Darren Clarke yesterday and I've spoken to another two professionals and they have all said that I'll be a better player after a year on the tour."

Wood has already received an invitation to the Quinn Insurance British Masters at The Belfry, which starts on 25 September and is promoted by his management company.

McIlroy made his professional debut there last season and a week later came third in the Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

Wood is allowed seven sponsor's invites and if he earns about �150,000 from them he will avoid November's European Tour qualifying school.

606: DEBATE The lure of cash up front and sponsors invitations were inevitable after Wood's Open result GolfDonno

"We are thrilled and delighted that Chris has chosen to join ISM when he had several options," said managing director Andrew Chandler.

"He is an extremely talented and likeable young man and proved at the Open that he can perform at the highest level."

Wood partnered Ian Poulter in the final round of the Open and at the start of the back nine was only two off the lead.

Although Wood slipped back into a tie for fifth, seven strokes behind Padraig Harrington, his performance was easily the best by an amateur in any major since Rose's display a decade earlier.