Ryan Fenwick, the rookie pro from Bognor, was in good company this week.

He narrowly failed to qualify for the Open and headed for home enriched by the experience of getting a glimpse of the big time.

The trip took £500 out of his slim bank account but Ryan reckons it was well worth it although if a sponsor should call he'll be welcome with open arms.

For Ryan and a host of others, great and small, final qualifying is a merciless ritual. As Sam Torrance, who at 46 is the wisest of old birds observed: "It's a nightmare. You can't afford the slightest slip. It's so tight, if you make one mistake, you can be out."

For Torrance, currently 135th in the Volvo Order of Merit, the fates were kind and he is now playing his 28th Open.

But look at some of the great names who checked out early.

The American, Mark McCumber was one after shooting 135 at Leven Links and here Fenwick, who was three too many with 68, 70, takes up the story.

"I played well but three three-putts in the last nine holes spoiled my chances. I played with Roger Wessels, the South African and that opened my eyes.

"He incurred a four-stroke penalty for using the wrong compression ball and declared it himself. His caddy threw him the ball that had been mixed in with some others and when Wessels realised it he called an official over. In what other sport would you find that happening? I don't think you'd come across it in football. That's what sets golf apart.

"I played a practice round with Mark McCumber and Mark Hilton. I got on really well with McCumber who chatted all the time and he invited me over to Sawgrass. He had been ill and is starting to get his game back.

"I remember him being runner-up at Lytham three years ago and here he was trying to qualify and just losing out. Qualifying is no respecter of reputations but I had to feel for Mark Hilton who lost in a play-off for two spots.

"At Levin I finished four under which wasn't bad but it was really hard on Mark Hilton to miss out like that. Getting to the final qualifying was an ordeal in itself. In the regional qualifying, I three-putted the last at Hindhead for 69 when anything over 71 was too many.

"At Leven the greens were quick and tricky but, all things considered, I was pleased with my putting and game generally.

"Of course, I was gutted to miss out and you could feel the tension. It was my third time in the final qualifying and my first since turning pro. It felt different and I tended to concentrate more.

"Last time I missed it by two, but now my mind is directed to the Tour School and getting through the pre-qualifying for that and hoping to get a place in the starting line-up in Spain in November."

Going to Scotland for the final qualifying cost Ryan a good £500. There was the flight to pay for and hire of a car. He couldn't get a local b&b and had to fork out £200 for a hotel 20 minutes from the course.

He has an attachment to Bognor, but there is no financial aid from any quarter but his parents.

"The club have been really great and the members most supportive, but if you hear of anybody...."

This weekend Fenwick will watch the Open on the box. Last week, before going to Leven, he walked the Old Course at St Andrews and mused: "Although I've played it before, it was a great feeling and you have to fancy Tiger Woods."

On Monday, when the champion will have been crowned 24 hours earlier, Ryan and a field of wannabees line-up for a Europro event in Lancashire far from the glamour of the Open but the name of the game is the same.