MARK Ashworth may have to settle for sitting at home and watching the Open on TV today, but at least he'll be doing it with the satisfaction of knowing he's good enough to be there.

If he could have sunk a few more putts during his two rounds at Ladybank in the weekend's final qualifiers he would have been in the field for the 134th tournament at St Andrews.

As it was, the Clitheroe amateur hit 73 and 69 for a total of 142 which left him six shots off a vital top three spot.

"I could have made it," said Ashworth. "My putting wasn't brilliant, but it's a positive thing to know that if everything clicks in your game you've got enough to do it.

"There's nothing worse than playing your best and finishing miles off the pace.

"69 was the highest score I could have got, it should have been 65 or 66 with the putts I missed.

"I had seven or eight on the edge and four that were in the hole all the way but finished short.

"So I didn't scramble for pars, I missed birdies. But I came off happy.

"I was playing with Challenge Tour players and ex Tour players and beat them, so I have to be happy."

Ashworth was playing his first final qualifier north of the border, which he made at the third attempt in the local round at Pleasington the previous Monday.

And he still managed to soak up the atmosphere as well as experiencing the nerve-racking aura of the world's oldest Major championship.

Ashworth said: "I played a practice round with Paul Dwyer from Clitheroe. He got in the Open four years ago but he said he had never been as nervous in his life as he was when qualifying.

"The first fairway is wide but your knees are shaking and all you can look at is the people watching and all you can think of is not hitting them.

"But the course was brilliant and the weather made it as well. I packed for Scotland with long sleeves and waterproofs but had to buy a t-shirt in the golf shop.

"We went in to St Andrews on Saturday night and just walked up and down the golf course, which you'd never be able to do at Lytham or Birkdale. We just walked up the first and 18th fairways and nobody batted an eyelid.

"On Saturday night Tony Jacklin was there and we walked with him then Jim Furyk, and you can't do that anywhere else."

But as well as poor putting, the 38-year-old also feels the qualifying criteria seriously hampered his - and most of the other British players' - chances of getting through.

"To only have 12 spots when 2,500 have entered and they've got £110 off everybody is a bit naughty of the R&A," said Ashworth

"They used to have eight spots from each one but they stopped it to increase overseas qualification.

"They would never do that in America, they want their golfers playing, so it's not fair to make it harder for home grown talent to get in.

"That's the wrong way round but that's the way they've done it.

"They had a competition in America last year where 16 places were available from a field of 120 and only half of them turned up so it was ridiculous having that amount of spots for just 60 players."