Rising Scottish star realises Open ‘dream’ on emotional day

The embrace between 18-year-old amateur Connor Graham and his dad Stuart said it all.

After 36 holes, the rising Scottish star needed one more to seal his place in the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush next month.

In a share of the fifth and final qualifying spot, Graham and fellow Scot Paul O’Hara locked horns in a sudden death shootout at Dundonald Links.

But on a long, agonising day for the Texas Tech freshman – and, undoubtedly, the man who showed him the ropes – he finally realised his dreams.

“It’s pretty cool, you know,” Graham told bunkered.co.uk after holing a birdie putt to win the play-off. “I’m just delighted to be able to get the job done and secure my spot.

“I’ve been dreaming of playing in The Open for a while, I mean, you watch it on TV every year and I’ve been able to try and qualify the last few years.

“This year, to be able to do it, is pretty special.”

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It started at 8:00am on Tuesday morning. Graham smashed his first tee shot in the company of former world No.1 Lee Westwood and Ryder Cup winner Jamie Donaldson.

If there were any doubts among the crowd, they were quickly squashed.

A bogey at two, after three putts, wasn’t the ideal start, but bounce back birdies at the par-5 fourth and six holes were far more like it.

And as Graham played out his final 13 holes in level par to sit one-under after his first round, the signs were clear that he had risen to the occasion.

“It was an early start,” he admitted, “but you definitely have to just stay patient.

“It’s such a strong field for only five spots, so it forces you to play good golf. Having the support, a lot of clapping and cheering helped. That was nice.”

What followed from the tenth tee at 1:35pm, was even more impressive – and worthy of significantly more applause.

The Junior Ryder Cup winner carded a pair of birdie twos on holes 11 and 15 to make the turn at three-under-par and place him well in the hunt.

Joining Graham’s dad, who watched on with bated breath from outside the ropes, was GB&I Walker Cup captain Dean Robertson. How he’d like to see this young man show his class with nine to play.

And he did. Despite a bogey on the par-4 first, Graham chalked up another pair of birdies at three and six before coming millimetres from sealing the deal.

This was Final Qualifying at its most dramatic, nerve-shredding best.

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“There was a lot of good golf in there for how I scored, I just shaved a few edges,” he explained. “I grew up playing links golf, and so I know how it goes.

“But it means I know how to play it and, yeah, it was definitely an advantage in the end.”

All eyes turned to O’Hara, but the Hamilton man couldn’t find a decisive birdie in his final three holes to escape the looming play-off.

It was 7.34pm and the sun was still peeking through the clouds when both players teed off. By the time Graham claimed victory, it was shining over him.

He had just played 36 holes with Westwood, a 25-time DP World Tour winner and bona fide legend of the game, and now he was Open bound.

“I need a little rest,” he laughed. “Playing with Lee was so cool and playing with someone of that experience, seeing how they play will definitely help.”

“A lot of people came out to watch him, you know there was big crowds.”

Yet somehow, this day would get better. Hundreds had observed every shot from start to finish.

But it was the man who could barely watch that helped provide the most memorable moment of them all: an Open qualifying hug years in the making.

What a moment for Connor Graham. A birdie on the first play-off hole earns him a place in the 153rd Open.

His dad, who followed the group all day, couldn’t watch.

Superb embrace afterwards 👏 pic.twitter.com/34GDnOxpRw

— John Turnbull (@JohnTurnbull03) July 1, 2025

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.