Former Premier League footballers Jimmy Bullard and Peter Odemwingie began their quests to qualify for The Open Championship on Monday, June 22, 2026.
The athletes are among many golfers competing across 16 courses in regional qualifying rounds, aiming to secure spots in the final qualifying stage on June 30.
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The ultimate goal is to enter the 156-player field at Royal Birkdale for the 154th Open, scheduled from July 16 to 19.
Bullard is playing his regional round at Rochester & Cobham Park in Kent, seeking to improve on his performance from last year.
"I had a go last year," said Bullard, a former Premier League midfielder.
The Wisley member noted that his preparation had been strong before encountering difficult weather conditions during his previous attempt.
"Honestly, I was flying. It was the best golf I was ever playing [in the build-up].
I was like eight or nine out of ten, shooting three, four, five-under whenever I played," Bullard said.
He recalled that his excellent practice scores did not account for the heavy winds at the venue.
"I got to Open qualifying and the thing with those scores, I wasn’t playing in wind. I didn’t take that into consideration," Bullard said.
The conditions on the course proved far more challenging than he anticipated.
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"[I] turned up to the Open qualifier. Oh my God, it was blowing 40mph.
