Singh joins fight for Open places

(Getty Images)

Former World No 1 Vijay Singh will compete at Sunningdale next month in a bid to qualify for the Open at Royal St George's.

The Fijian, who was joint runner-up the last time the major tournament was held at the course in Sandwich, will be in the field at Sunningdale on 6 June.

Singh, 48, is not exempt after falling outside the world's top 50 – he is currently 59th – and is part of a 96-strong Sunningdale field, which also includes Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjorn.

It was Bjorn who led by three with four to play at Royal St George's in 2003, but he bogeyed the 15th, double-bogeyed the short 16th and dropped another shot on the next to lose by one – like Singh – to American Ben Curtis. They will be competing for 10 places in this July's championship at the Kent links.

Singh could have chosen to enter the qualifier in Texas next Monday. The field there includes Sergio Garcia and US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III.