Chris Wood has only two weeks to wait for his next major championship after coming so close to British Open glory at Turnberry. The 21-year-old, like Lee Westwood, bogeyed the last hole to miss out on the play-off between Tom Watson and Stewart Cink.

But having moved up to 59th in the world he is guaranteed a start in the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minnesota, starting on August 13th.

Wood, who also has a US Masters debut to look forward to next April, had to pull out of last week’s SAS Masters in Sweden after injuring a wrist in the Turnberry rough, but he returns to action in the Czech Republic tomorrow.

Fifth in the Open last year as an amateur, the 6ft 5in European Tour rookie is also in position now to represent Britain and Ireland against Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy — what used to be the Seve Trophy — in September.

If things stay as they are and everybody makes themselves available, Paul McGinley’s side would be Paul Casey, Westwood, Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter, Ross Fisher, Rory McIlroy, Oliver Wilson, Robert Rock, Nick Dougherty and Wood.

That is some turnaround for a player who prior to the Open did not even qualify for a place in either of the French or Scottish Opens.

Because Wood came through the qualifying school last November and has not won a tournament yet, he remains a Category 11 player even though he is 31st on the ‘Race To Dubai’ money list.

And with a first prize approaching €300,000 in this week’s Moravia Silesia Open at the Prosper Resort in Celadna, he could move up as high as 12th on the rankings.

The competition is nowhere near as strong as it was at the Open.

Course designer Miguel Angel Jimenez is the one member of last year’s Ryder Cup side in the field and Wood is the second highest-ranked player.

Wood finished with a joint best-of-the-day 67 in the final round at Turnberry and felt hard done by on the last when his approach, like that of Watson an hour later, went just over the green.

“I’ve never hit a nine-iron 210 yards in my life,” he said. “Probably a little bit of adrenaline, a bit of a flier and I couldn’t do anything about it. It landed on the line exactly how I wanted. It just absolutely went miles.

“It’s weird to say I’m only 21 and I’ve contended in two majors already. The experiences I’ve got out of the Open are going to be amazing for my career.

“I really felt like I controlled my nerves really well and I was really pleased with myself.

“I tried my hardest on every shot and it just wasn’t meant to be.”