Peter Uihlein was no doubt disappointed to fall a single stroke short at the HNA Open de France over the weekend, which would have been his first career European Tour victory since 2013, but he did not leave France empty handed.
As a runner-up finisher, the former U.S. Amateur champion received a spot in the field at this month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Uihlein was among three who was added to the field, as the tournament awarded three spots to players inside the top 10 who were not already exempt.
Along with Uihlein, Sweden’s Alexander Bjork, who finished T3 after holding the 54-hole co-lead, and France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera, who was also tied for third place in his home country, five strokes behind winner Tommy Fleetwood.
Bullets
- Titleist Family Member: Literally. Uilhein’s father is Wally Uihlein, the president and chief executive officer of the Acushnet Company, which comprises the golf brands Titleist, FootJoy, Pinnacle, and Scotty Cameron.
- Amateur Star: Uihlein exploded onto the world scene, winning the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay while playing collegiate golf at Oklahoma State.
- Quick Start: Uihlein joined the European Tour in 2011, notching a win, two runner-ups, and 14 top 10s over his first two seasons.
- Comeback Season: After a difficult career stretch from 2013-2016, Uihlein is in the midst of a nice comeback season, with five top 10s in 2017. This will be his third attempt at The Open Championship, with a T48 and a missed cut in his first two. The T48 was his only made cut at a major.
Quotable
“It’s what you practice for and it’s what you play for is to get in contention on Sunday in the final group and see how it goes. I was proud of the way I handled myself on the back nine. I felt like I hit it a lot better after a shaky start. I’m excited for tomorrow.”
–Peter Uihlein, after capturing the 54-hole lead at the French Open.
