Dredge snub to US Open stuns peers

Bradley Dredge, however, rather cocks up the theory by qualifying on two counts. He is Welsh and lacks ambition.

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How else can you explain the 33-year-old's extraordinary decision not to play in a 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath on Monday for the U.S. Open?

Here we have one of Europe's soundest players who is enjoying an excellent season. On his first trip to America this year he beat Ernie Els in the Accenture Match Play; on his second, his Masters debut, he stood just three shots off the lead after three rounds at Augusta.

Dredge is never happier than when playing on tough courses, where his wonderful short game comes into its own. Why on earth, then, would the world's 66th-ranked player not interrupt a planned fortnight off to try to qualify for a U.S. Open being staged at Oakmont, the toughest course of all?

"I don't do qualifying for the U.S. Open or The Open," said Dredge.

"That is what I have decided and luckily I don't have to answer to anybody. I'm playing my third event in a row at the Wales Open this week and then to travel up to Walton Heath and play 36 holes on Monday, mentally I would be struggling."

One man who finds it difficult to understand Dredge's stubborn stance is New Zealander Michael Campbell, a fellow competitor at the Wales Open which begins at Celtic Manor today.

Campbell, of course, showed precisely why anyone with Dredge's ability should make the effort. Two years ago, then ranked 80th in the world, he dragged his tired body up the M4 for the qualifier, made it through — and won the U.S. Open itself.

"Given what a good ball striker Bradley is and how well he is playing, I find his decision bizarre," said Campbell. "To compete and win majors is why we play this game, isn't it? The U.S. Open changed my whole life and Bradley is the sort of player who could do very well."

Dredge will play in one of the feature threeballs today alongside European Tour loyalist Retief Goosen and last year's winner, Swedish Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson.

Bereft of many of Europe's big names, the organisers will keep their fingers crossed that Colin Montgomerie recovers from a bug that prevented him playing in yesterday's pro-am.