Daly Will Try to Qualify for U.S. Open

Sergio Garcia and Fred Couples are in, Colin Montgomerie and John Daly are out, but the U.S. Open could wind up with both of them anyway.

Garcia and Couples were among the 12 players who are in because they ranked in the top 50 to begin the week. Montgomerie, who like Daly failed to reach the top 50, said he would play only if he received a special exemption from the USGA.

Daly said he intended to try to qualify Monday at Brookside Golf and Country Club at Columbus, Ohio. His best Open finish is a tie for 27th.

The USGA has awarded Raymond Floyd the only special exemption into the Open, which will be played June 17-20 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Floyd won the 1986 U.S. Open at Shinnecock.

Last year at Olympia Fields, the USGA awarded three special exemptions, to former Open champions Hale Irwin, Tom Kite and Tom Watson.

Montgomerie has played in the U.S. Open the last 12 years. He tied for second behind Ernie Els in 1994 at Oakmont and was second again to Els in 1997 at Congressional.

Unless Montgomerie receives a last-minute exemption, his streak of consecutive majors will end at 49. Montgomerie is not exempt for next month’s British Open at Royal Troon, but he has said he would try qualifying.

David Duval, who has not played this year, and defending champion Jim Furyk, who had wrist surgery, are among the 76 fully exempt for the U.S. Open, but neither is expected to play. Their places would be filled with qualifiers from the field of 750 competing for 80 spots Monday and Tuesday at 13 sites.

Former Open champions Kite and Scott Simpson will try sectional qualifying.