A LIV Golf rebel who was ruthlessly axed after three events has qualified for the 151st Open Championship later this year, while Ian Poulter missed out after being well off the pace at the qualification event.
Australian Travis Smyth was signed up for the inaugural LIV Golf event last year before being axed after three events. However, the world No.277 has booked his place at this year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool by finishing third in the World City Championship presented by Hong Kong Golf Club.
The Asian Tour event carried four qualification spots for the Open Championship in July attracting LIV Golf rebel Poulter.
The top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings eight weeks before the Open on July 16 will automatic qualifying along with former Open winners and other selected events.
Qualifying events also carry qualification places and with LIV Golf rebels suspended from the PGA Tour the Asian Tour event provided them with an opportunity to earn themselves a coveted place at Royal Liverpool.
Poor weather resulted in event being reduced to 54-holes with 22-year-old Hong Kong player Taichi Kho finishing 14-under par two shots ahead of New Zealand's Michael Hendry.
Smyth secured his place at the Open with a third place finish on nine-under while Bio Kim took the final qualification spot.
New Zealander Smyth failed to impress LIV Golf chiefs after finishing tied 33rd in the first event at Centurion, tied 29th at Portland and 22nd at Bedminster out of the restricted 48-player field. Meanwhile, Poulter who finished runner-up at the Open in 2008, finished tied 45th on one-under par at last weekend's World City Championship
The former world No.5 has seen his ranking drop to 151st since joining the LIV Golf series, although he did finish joint sixth in the Hero Dubai Desert Classic DP World Tour event in January.
Former Ryder Cup captain and now LIV Golf rebel Henrik Stenson has already qualified for the Open after winning the Claret Jug in 2006, but was also in Hong Kong.
The Swedish star, who earned £3.25million by winning the LIV Golf event in Bedminster last year, also finished well down the field in joint 61st.
