"It was about time I had a bit of luck," he said. "The ball was lying in a fluffy lie. I changed from a wedge to a nine-iron and it was perfect, though I was really fortunate it went in."
Also through at Prince's was Andrew Raitt, whose performance was not bad for a golfer who last year claimed his playing career had been blighted by a savage bite from an Alsatian.
In a celebrated court case, Raitt sought damages in excess of £6 million for losing the tip of his left little finger. He claimed the injury caused a major change in his grip with crucial loss of power and balance
However, High Court judge Sir Ian Kennedy wasn't convinced. He said: "I cannot find any material to support the contention that his game would have gone better or that his confidence would have been greater but for this accident."
Raitt was awarded just £4,900 and resumed his career on the European Tour with a degree of success, finishing 15th in the recent Diageo Championship at Gleneagles.
London's Anthony Wall made it through at the Littlestone course with a birdie at the first play-off hole. But there was no luck for former Ryder Cup captain Mark James or Costantino Rocca, who lost to John Daly in a play-off for the 1995 Open at St Andrews.
American Jeff Maggert, who led the US Masters with a round to play in April, missed a qualifying spot by three shots and Nick Dougherty, last season's European Tour rookie of the year, was another who will not be playing in the Championship.
