- Bullard was among around 2,000 players bidding to qualify for the Open
- The former Premier League star competed at one of the regional qualifiers
- Bullard would ultimately finish four strokes off reaching the final qualifying event
Former Premier League cult hero Jimmy Bullard has admitted he ‘couldn’t find anything’ on the course as his bid to qualify for the Open Championship came to an end.
Bullard was among 2,000 players competing around 15 venues across the UK and Ireland on Monday in regional qualifying events.
The events offered between seven and 10 qualification spots for the final qualifying event on July 1.
Bullard competed at the regional qualifier at Rochester and Cobham Park, with the former Fulham, Wigan, and Hull City player carding a three-over-par round of 74.
The 46-year-old, who is a scratch golfer, finished four strokes away from a qualifying position at the event.
‘Deffo not my day today but loved every minute of it,’ Bullard wrote on Instagram.
Former Premier League star Jimmy Bullard has failed in his bid to qualify for the Open
Bullard admitted he ‘couldn’t find anything’ after finishing four strokes off a qualifying score
Bullard has been among around 2,000 people competing in regional qualifying events
‘Tried to dig deep but couldn’t find anything.
‘A big thanks to @rcpgc @therandagolf @theopen and all of yous that come out to support, at one point I counted close to 100 of yas.’
Bullard previously competed in five of the now defunct EuroPro tour events between 2014 and 2016 and was hoping to qualify for the open.
Announcing his attempt to qualify in a video on his channel, Bullard said: ‘Done my back [last year], played too much golf so I’ve got to manage that.
‘But I think that’s just a one off to be honest. I don’t really get injured do I? Quest for The Open, yes. But a quest to make me a better golfer.
‘I feel like the game of golf, I’ve got to the ceiling of what I know. All my scores are like level par, one-under, I’ve reached my ceiling.
‘How do I get to the next level shooting four, five, six under? Is it available to me with my ability? I don’t know. But I feel I’ve come to the end where I need a coach. I’ve exhausted all the stuff I know.’
Bullard had been left on the verge of tears after he was forced to pull out of qualifiers last year because of a back injury.
Bullard, who played for Fulham, Wigan, and Hull, hung up his boots in 2012 and is a keen golfer
Peter Odemwingie, pictured in 2020, also failed to come through his qualifying event
The former midfielder was not the only ex-Premier League player bidding to qualify for the major.
Peter Odemwingie, the former West Brom, Cardiff and Stoke forward, also missed out at his regional qualifier at Enville.
Odemwingie, who has qualified as a PGA professional golfer since retiring from football, carded a 10-over-par round of 82.
Golf’s oldest tournament, The Open, will take place at Royal Portrush from July 17 to 20.
