Sectional Qualifying for the US Open

Sectional qualifying for the US Open in Europe takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2013 at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey. Last year it was free entry and you get to see the "nearly men" who are giving it one last go to try and qualify. Don't see why it won't be free again this year. I saw one spectator manage to get on the bag of a player who hadn't got a caddie. (If he'd have qualified and it was me on the bag, I would have asked to be the caddie at the tournament, but I don't think he did.) Also you can get quite close to the players as there aren't many ropes in existence. Might pop along if the weather is good.

I went along today and as in previous years it was fantastic. Weather helped, though golfers must have felt a bit wind battered by the end.
Highlights:
Followed Rumford for several holes and enjoyed short game masterclass.
Casey in afternoon round quite superb. He's very nearly back or I'm a City fan!
Not a single "in the hole" to be heard.
Did somebody say "nearly men" Olazabal, Montgomerie, Noren, Casey Bourdy. Superb free golf entertainment.

Lowlight:
There is one top class golf event in England this year, and it has already happened. Absolute travesty! This qualifying event has grown in spectator numbers in the 5 years or so I have been attending, and one reason is we are starved of top class golf.

Anyway, thank you Walton Heath, and players. Most of all thank you USGA for ensuring that in this event spectators can walk the fairways with players. A real one off nowadays and not to be missed. Perfectly well behaved. Great support for all.

Just had opportunity to check final scores. Have to say Eduardo Molinari, and Raphael Cabrera-Bello must be feeling like I do after a medal round. Both played superbly - we followed Molinari this morning playing with Rumford, and C-B this afternoon with Casey. One example, in consecutive holes C-B went double bogey, eagle. Without the double I bet he would have produced the right score. Molinari was excellent - another one not far from being back, although noticeable that he has left thumb heavily strapped, so maybe still recuperating.

And well done Simon Khan. Bounce back very impressive from Sunday!

Sounds great entertainment.
Those who missed out could form the nucleus of a decent European Tour event.
Pepperell continues his super weekend, but looks like Rumford fell apart after your inspiration deserted him . . . . . .

Don't get why people WD in this after shooting 73/74/75 because as Casey showed you can always produce a really low second round score in it.

Kwini - the fact that Rumford was in a position to demonstrate his superb short game skills was linked directly to his inability to hit a g-I-r! Was never going to succeed in this format but he really is a talent when it comes to chipping pitching and putting (albeit with a long and anchored putter). One par having chipped almost sideways from the heather leaving 130ish yards to a front pin guarded by a large bunker was as good as I have seen.
Didn't see Pepperell, but good luck to him, and John Parry who has often got warm without boiling!
We decided this year to spend longer with a couple of groups playing same holes am/pm which meant we saw fewer players overall, but some cameos from Olazabal, Levet, Noren, Monty, Howell were well worth it. Casey was fantastic this afternoon. Saw him 1 and 6-18 which included a couple of lip outs showing how good it could have been. Ball striking peerless and general demeanour excellent. He could do some damage soon!

montrachet,
Agree, usually get to a tournament early and follow a group in the a.m., another in the p.m., and if there's time in between position at a strategic point, Perhaps Second shot at a par five or a decent bar . . . . . . (because the "ale" emoticon wouldn't come up!)