Australian Pampling gets British Open spot

LOCH LOMOND, Scotland (Reuters) - Australian Rod Pampling was in exuberant mood on Sunday after clinching a place in next week's British Open.

He finished joint 20th at the Scottish Open and with no-one in the top five of the leaderboard taking a spot for Turnberry, Pampling qualified by virtue of his world ranking of 77.

"It is great to be in the British Open," Pampling told reporters after carding a closing 73 for a five-under tally of 279. "I am really looking forward to it.

"I kept looking at the leaderboard and I knew all the guys in the top five were already in. It was nice to see exempt players up there."

The Open starts on Thursday.

(Reporting by Tony Jimenez; Editing by Ed Osmond)