Not a Joke: Two Rickies and a Davis Get Into the Open

Though it almost sounds like a set up to a bad religion joke, Ricky Barnes, Rickie Fowler, and Davis Love III all were told they are in the Open Championship next week.  Barnes and DL3 got in off of the alternate list for the third major of the year when Anthony Kim (thumb) and David Toms (shoulder) pulled out of the event. 

Fowler got in by virtue of being one of the two highest ranked players in the OWGR not already exempt into the championship.  Jeff Overton was the other, but he didn't fit the headline.  Fowler will be playing in his first professional major and first Open.  Overton will be playing in it for the third straight year.

All four gentleman were on the alternate list in the order of their place in the OWGR as of this past Monday.  So, Fowler and Overton got in first when it was evident that there would not be a fully qualified field of 156 players otherwise.  By virtue of Charlie Wi's finishing bogey at the AT&T National, Overton leaped over Ricky Barnes in the OWGR.  It's not completely moot that Barnes was next to get in when the pull outs began.  DL3 was next in the Open.  Jason Day would be next.

There are still two spots up for grabs this week.  They are available to the top finishing player in the top five at both the John Deere Classic and Scottish Open that are not already in the championship.  If no one finishes in the top five in either event that is not already qualified (unlikely), then the final two spots will be determined by a contest among fifteen players to see who can hold their breath under water the longest same system which gave Overton and Fowler berths will be used.