Clarke and Jean Van de Velde paired for US Open qualifying

And their chances of making it through to Oakmont the following week have been boosted by another spate of withdrawals.

Welsh pair Garry Houston and Mark Pilkington, England's Lee Slattery, Swede Peter Gustafsson and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara are the latest European Tour players to pull out.

That follows seven scratchings earlier in the week, including Paul Lawrie, the player who capitalised on Van de Velde triple-bogeying the final hole of the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.

Only 55 players are left in the starting line-up, but whether there are still nine qualifying spots up for grabs will only be determined on the day.

Michael Campbell won the 2005 US Open after coming through the same qualifier with nothing to spare.

Paul McGinley and Miguel Angel Jimenez are paired together, as are Scots Stephen Gallacher and Alastair Forsyth.