The European contingent at next week's US Open is lacking Darren Clarke and Paul Lawrie, but at least Wentworth's Sam Osborne, the world's 1,457th-ranked golfer, will be there.
Now based in Sarasota, the 6ft 4in 30-year-old has come through two stages of qualifying to join Tiger Woods, defending champion Rory McIlroy and the rest at the Olympic Club.
"I've never played in the US Open or The Open - this is fantastic, so exciting," said Osborne, who nine years ago was a quarter-finalist in the British amateur championship.
He won a local qualifier with a 68 and then on Monday had rounds of 71 and 70 to finish second at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, where 57 players were battling for just three spots in the second major of the year.
Osborne turned professional in 2004 and was invited to play in the Dubai Desert Classic the following March. He had six birdies in his first 11 holes to share the lead with Ernie Els.
But while the South African star went on to win Osborne slipped back to 29th - and the £10,500 cheque remains his biggest on the circuit.
He made six visits to the Tour qualifying school without success, did gain a card for the Asian Tour, but then made his move to America - first to work as a coach and then to compete on the West Florida Tour.
His performance this week prevented a piece of history. It meant a play-off between two players for the third place and 14-year-old Chinese player Andy Zhang, trying to become the youngest-ever competitor at the US Open, lost it.
Zhang still has a chance as a reserve, but there might need to be a whole host of withdrawals for him to be called into the field.
Qualifying can be hard work, but it does not usually result in a player being taken to hospital.
That is what happened to 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton in Texas, though.
The 46-year-old was one under par after 27 of the 36 holes and still had hopes of making it through - those on four under ended up in a play-off - but he was overcome by the heat and an ambulance was called.
American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love is two years older than Hamilton and was glad to be in Ohio than burning hot Houston for his qualifier.
There were 132 players competing for 16 spots there and Love survived in joint sixth place to earn a 32nd start in his national
championship.
"I could have saved myself a long, hard day, but it's worth it if you want to play in the US Open," said Love, who would have been exempt if he had avoided three-putting the final green at Congressional last year and therefore finished in the top 10.
"I seem to play well in the qualifying because I don't have a scoreboard to look at. You just play.
"I'm hitting it pretty well and I still have a lot of desire to play in big events."
