There is something about the 36-hole shootout of major championship qualifying that brings out the best in Sam Bairstow.

Before Tuesday’s final qualifier for the Open at Royal Birkdale in a fortnight’s time, the 27-year-old left-hander from Sheffield was in the midst of a wretched run in a frustrating season.

He had missed the cut in his four previous tournaments on the DP World Tour, has failed to reach the weekend seven times in 16 events, finished no higher than 10th and is currently in danger of losing his playing privileges after three years on the top circuit.

And yet put him in a field with 70-odd players with just five places on offer at a major, and there are few better.

Shootout: Sam Bairstow put a torrid year behind him to qualify for the Open at Royal Birkdale (Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Shootout: Sam Bairstow put a torrid year behind him to qualify for the Open at Royal Birkdale (Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Because for the third time in five attempts, Bairstow qualified for the Open. He has twice previously qualified for the US Open as well, seemingly revelling in the single-day, 36-hole format.

At West Lancs on Tuesday, Bairstow opened with a six-under-par 66 to sit two shots off the lead, before really catching fire.

Instead of sitting back on what he had got, Bairstow continued hunting down flagsticks, opening up with eagle-birdie-birdie to climb to the top of the leaderboard at 10 under. He added one more birdie on the back nine before dropping a shot on the 18th, but had done enough to win.

“Getting back to The Open means a lot, I’ve missed it the last few years,” said Bairstow, after rounds of 66, 67 topped a field of Open hopefuls including former major winners Danny Willett and Sergio Garcia and a host of Tour and club pros.

“Birkdale is close to home and I’m sure it’s going to be great.

“I didn’t have my best game in the morning, but I managed to get it from tee to green and get a decent score out of it so that gave me a boost going into the afternoon. It is great to get through.”

A late flurry of birdies saw Sheffield’s Joe Dean force his way into a four-man play-off for the final place available from West Lancs last night. However, he lost out on the second hole to Matthew Jordan.

Former Masters champion Danny Willett was four under alongside Barnsley’s Ben Schmidt, but too far back from the play-off. Sergio Garcia also missed out after a closing 75.

Ben Hutchinson (Howley Hall) was the only other Yorkshire player under par at West Lancs.

Lindrick’s Sam Rook, who plays on the Asian Development Tour, had a good run at Royal Cinque Ports but was forever a shot adrift of the top five, carding a double-bogey on the last chasing that elusive birdie.

Hallamshire’s Barclay Brown was four shots worse off.

Tom Curtis (Spofforth) and Moortown amateur Oliver Cage were the highest placed Yorkshiremen at Dundonald but a long way out of contention.