The British Open this year decided to scrap its 36-hole qualifiers on the European Tour and PGA Tour in favor of what effectively is 72-hole qualifiers. Four leading players from the top 12 on the leaderboard at Congressional and the Greenbrier earn spots. In Europe, the leading three players from the Irish Open, French Open and Scottish Open get into The Open. The John Deere Classic gets one spot.

It’s the same amount of qualifying spots as were available last year through both 36-hole qualifiers.

But it eliminates any chance for Web.com Tour players, or for some of the top college players who turn pro in the summer. The only chance they have to qualify – without a trip across the Atlantic – is to get a spot in the PGA Tour (or European Tour) fields.

“These matters have been very much considered by the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and their request certainly has been to evolve from what we were with the 36-hole stand-alone into the series we have now,” R&A executive director Michael Tate said Tuesday. “They don’t have that simple opportunity. They can, of course, still travel to the UK and qualify. But I understand how difficult that is.

“I think in the world of the game of golf, what we achieved and what we are doing now is probably correct.”

Indeed, 288 players currently are playing for 12 spots at four regional spots in Britain the next two days. A decade ago, local qualifying was the only way into The Open, and it was held the weekend before the championship.

COLOGNE, Germany – Fabrizio Zanotti won a four-way playoff to take the BMW International Open title Sunday and become the first player from Paraguay to win on the European Tour.

“This is huge. I think everybody in Paraguay is going to be so happy,” Zanotti said after winning his first playoff. “Everybody in Paraguay was awaiting this moment, like me.”

Zanotti won when No. 2-ranked Henrik Stenson conceded after failing to make a bunker shot on the fifth playoff hole. Gregory Havret of France and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain went out on the second and fourth holes, respectively.

“I’ve been working a lot for this and thank God the moment came,” said the 305th-ranked Zanotti. “I’ve been working on my game and made some big changes and now I can see (the result).”

The 31-year-old Zanotti earlier made seven birdies for a 7-under 65 final round to finish on 19-under 269 on the Gut Laerchenhof course. It was his second successive 65 after rounds of 72 and then 67.

“I was just trying to enjoy the moment, shot by shot,” Zanotti said. “Then when I got to the playoff, it was very up and down for the first one. Then in the second I got a good birdie after Henrik. Then I started thinking, maybe today is my day.”

Stenson came close to snatching victory before the playoff but settled for par on the last hole. The Swede made up for two bogeys with five birdies and an eagle. He came agonizingly close to ending the playoff at the first hole.

Cabrera-Bello earned his playoff place with a birdie-eagle-birdie finish. He almost made an eagle to end the playoff at the third hole as rain began falling.

Overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal, who held a three-stroke advantage, could only finish joint-eighth on 17 under after two bogeys – the Spaniard’s first missed shots of the week – and two birdies gave him a final round of 72.

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Simon Dyson of England and Welshman Jamie Donaldson finished tied for fifth on 18 under, ahead of former champions Larrazabal (2011), Danny Willett (2012), Thomas Bjorn (2000 and 2002) as well as Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, England’s Paul Waring and Alex Cejka – the highest placed German – were in a group of 10 players in joint-12th.

James Heath scored a hole in one on the 16th to win a sports car. The Englishman finished 11-under 277 overall.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” the 21-year-old said. “It more than triples the highest check I’ve ever made.”

COLOGNE, Germany – Former champion Pablo Larrazabal made five birdies for a 5-under 67 to claim the overnight lead going into the final day of the BMW International Open on Saturday.

“I’m going shot by shot, hole by hole and trying to make as many birdies as I can,” Larrazabal said.

The Spaniard, who won the tournament in a play-off with compatriot Sergio Garcia in 2011, finished strongly and holds a three-shot lead at 17-under par, with eight players tied for second on 14-under.

Larrazabal is yet to drop a shot in the tournament, but was nevertheless unhappy with his performance and he acknowledged that the wet course had been a factor.

“My game wasn’t good today. I didn’t hit the driver well. I put myself in a little bit of trouble but I knew how to handle it and to keep it going and make some birdies coming in. I can play better golf but – playing like I played, I cannot score better,” Larrazabal said.

Emiliano Grillo would be closer to the Spaniard but for a double bogey on the final hole. The Argentine is tied with former winners Thomas Bjorn (2000 and 2002), Henrik Stenson (2006) and Robert Karlsson (1997), as well as Francesco Molinari, Carlos Del Moral, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Richard Green, who catapulted himself into contention with the round of the tournament. The Australian made eight birdies and an eagle for a 10-under 62.

Green also alluded to the weather’s impact.

“The course was firm on Thursday afternoon, bouncy, and now all of a sudden it’s target practice now. So you can pretty much fly it at any pin and stop it right there,” Green said.

Former winner Danny Willett, who started in a four-way lead with Larrazabal, Grillo and playing partner Cabrera-Bello, struggled with a shoulder injury. The Englishman made two bogeys, but recovered with two of his three birdies at the final four holes for a 1-under 71 to finish in a group at 13 under.

COLOGNE, Germany – Four players share the overnight lead from the second round of the BMW International Open, while U.S. Open winner Martin Kaymer failed to make the 4-under cut on Friday.

Local favorite Kaymer had three straight bogeys and a double bogey in a 1-over 73 that included four birdies. He finished on level par 144 overall.

“(This) was a big step for me to accept that you have golf courses that don’t suit your play . so it’s OK for me,” said Kaymer, who was born in nearby Duesseldorf.

“It is how it is. I did my very best and level par was the best I could do.”

Former champion Pablo Larrazabal made nine birdies – including five in a row – for a 9-under 63, matching the best round so far. The Spaniard is on 12 under overall with overnight leaders Danny Willett of England and Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain.

“I played great today, I played great yesterday,” said Larrazabal, who won the tournament in 2011.

Emiliano Grillo of Argentina later carded his second successive 66 to join the leaders.

Cabrera-Bello double hit for his first missed shot of the week on the par-5 seventh but made five birdies while Willett, the 2012 tournament winner, stayed bogey-free to match his Spanish playing partner’s 4-under 68.

“I was a little unlucky coming down the last few holes but, overall, pleased with the minus four,” Cabrera-Bello said.

Andy Sullivan was level with the leaders with seven holes to play when play was suspended for almost 90 minutes due to a heavy storm. The Englishman dropped a shot on the par-5 No. 3 once play resumed and finished with a double bogey to finish on 9 under, three off the pace.

Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, Scotland’s Craig Lee, South Africa’s Branden Grace, Germany’s Alex Cejka, Denmark’s Andreas Harto and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson were tied in fifth place, two shots behind the leaders. Jimenez won the tournament in 2004.

Paul Waring shot seven birdies and an eagle to complete a 63. The Englishman was in an eight-way tie for 11th on 9 under.

Second-ranked Henrik Stenson, who won in 2006, again finished the round 4 under with four birdies. The Swede is among a group of 10 players sharing 19th place including two-time winner Thomas Bjorn of Denmark on 8 under overall.

Former winner John Daly of the United States shot 67 and is tied for 29th on 7 under.

COLOGNE, Germany – Danny Willett and Rafa Cabrera-Bello both shot 8-under 64s to share the clubhouse lead while local favorite Martin Kaymer endured a frustrating round on the opening day of the BMW International Open on Thursday.

Willett, the Englishman who won the 2012 tournament on the same Gut Laerchenhof course, finished with his eighth birdie to match his Spanish playing partner’s bogey-free round.

Kaymer, making his first competitive appearance since winning the U.S. Open, made five birdies but was let down by two bogeys and a double bogey in a 1-under 71.

“It was a tough day for me on the greens,” said Kaymer, who was given a rousing reception despite the 7:40 a.m. tee off. “It was very, very playable today. It was the best conditions you can get here, but I didn’t make many putts, especially the last five holes. It was probably the worst I can do.”

There was a six-way tie for third, with Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey joining early leaders Anders Hansen of Denmark, Gary Stahl of France and Englishmen Andy Sullivan and Graham Storm on 6-under 66.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, France’s Romain Wattel and Spaniards Nacho Elvira and Jorge Campillo were in a group at 5 under.

Irish Open winner Mikko Ilonen finished 4 under, while playing partner and 11-time European Tour winner Sergio Garcia was 1 under.

World No. 2 Henrik Stenson managed an eagle on the 13th hole and finished 4 under with another two birdies.

COLOGNE, Germany – Danny Willett and Rafa Cabrera-Bello both shot 8-under 64s to share the clubhouse lead while local favorite Martin Kaymer endured a frustrating round on the opening day of the BMW International Open on Thursday.

Willett, the Englishman who won the 2012 tournament on the same Gut Laerchenhof course, finished with his eighth birdie to match his Spanish playing partner’s bogey-free round.

Kaymer, making his first competitive appearance since winning the U.S. Open, made five birdies but was let down by two bogeys and a double bogey in a 1-under 71.

“It was a tough day for me on the greens,” said Kaymer, who was given a rousing reception despite the 7:40 a.m. tee off. “It was very, very playable today. It was the best conditions you can get here, but I didn’t make many putts, especially the last five holes. It was probably the worst I can do.”

There was a six-way tie for third, with Spain’s Alvaro Quiros and Northern Ireland’s Michael Hoey joining early leaders Anders Hansen of Denmark, Gary Stahl of France and Englishmen Andy Sullivan and Graham Storm on 6-under 66.

Ireland’s Shane Lowry, France’s Romain Wattel and Spaniards Nacho Elvira and Jorge Campillo were in a group at 5 under.

Irish Open winner Mikko Ilonen finished 4 under, while playing partner and 11-time European Tour winner Sergio Garcia was 1 under.

World No. 2 Henrik Stenson managed an eagle on the 13th hole and finished 4 under with another two birdies.

CORK, Ireland – Mikko Ilonen shot a final round 70 on Sunday to win the Irish Open by 1 stroke after leading from start to finish.

The 34-year old Finn celebrated his 300th European event and his fourth tour victory with an overall 13-under 271 on the Fota Island course.

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari shot 67 to take second on 12 under.

Local favorite Graeme McDowell never appeared in the hunt for his first Irish Open success, posting a 71 to finish three shots behind Ilonen.

Molinari, along with the England duo of Danny Willett and Matthew Baldwin, secured the three spots available for next month’s British Open at Royal Liverpool.

CORK, Ireland – Mikko Ilonen of Finland birdied the last hole to stay on top of the Irish Open leaderboard after the third round on Saturday.

Ilonen, who has led from the outset, carded a 2-under-par 69 to move to a 12-under total at Fota Island.

The leader by two shots overnight, Ilonen will take a one-shot lead into the final round over Danny Willett of England, who eclipsed Ilonen’s own course record by a shot with an 8-under 63 that also included a hole-in-one at the seventh.

One shot further back on 10 under was crowd favorite Graeme McDowell, who birdied two of his closing three holes in a score of 69. The Northern Irishman was not only targeting a first victory this year but also a maiden Irish Open victory.

“It’s been fun to come here this week after the pressures of last week’s U.S. Open and just let off some steam and relax, and enjoy my golf again, and also enjoy the odd pint of Guinness in the evenings,” McDowell said.

“I will now try and give the crowds what they want tomorrow, and that’s an Irish winner, but then there is a lot of names up on the leaderboard who will have issues with that.

“Winning the Irish Open is well up my leaderboard as far as wish lists of golf tournaments I would like to win, and to win would do many things like kick start my season and boost my Ryder Cup chances.”

He noted an Irish winner would also cap a good week for Irish golf, with Royal Portrush added to the British Open rotation, and Rory McIlroy committing to representing Ireland at the 2016 Olympics.

Ilonen confessed he wore an emerald-colored shirt to try and win over the large Irish crowds.

The Finn could have easily finished two clear when his attempted eagle chip shot at 18 lipped out, leaving a three-footer for his birdie.

“I decided to wear a green shirt today, and the fans were really pleased, but then I knew my course record wouldn’t last long and I called that,” Ilonen said.

“But I feel really comfortable out there, and really pleased to birdie 18, and get back the lead.”

Willett recorded his second hole-in-one of the year, after one at the China Open.

“It was a perfect number, wind out of the left with an 8-iron, kind of saying go in and not really quite sure, but it slam-dunked in the hole,” Willett said after his second 63 of the year.

CORK, Ireland – Mikko Ilonen opened up a two-stroke lead at the Irish Open at the end of the second round as Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut by one shot.

Ilonen added a 2-under 68 to his opening round course record of 64 to move to 10 under on the Fota Island Resort course.

The 34-year old Finn birdied his opening hole but then stalled with eight straight pars ahead of an inward half that included four birdies.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell (66), England’s Robert Rock (66) and Frenchman Romain Wattel (65) share second place on 8 under.

McIlroy’s second round 68 was a mix of a 10th hole eagle, six birdies and a double bogey at No. 4.

CORK, Ireland – Finland’s Mikko Illonen shot a 7-under-par 64 to set a new course record on Thursday as crowd favorite Rory McIlroy struggled on the opening day of the Irish Open.

Illonen birdied five of his closing seven holes in superb morning conditions on the Fota Island course in Cork and took a three-stroke clubhouse lead over Italy’s Edoardo Molinari and England’s Matthew Baldwin, who were the next best among the early finishers.

The 64 is a new low for a course that has undergone major changes since its previous staging of the Irish Open in 2002.

McIlroy hit just eight of the 14 fairways and took 30 putts in a round of three-over 74.

Illonen is playing his 300th European Tour event and said Thursday’s round was belated reward for good recent form.

“I lost out in a play-off to Sergio (Garcia) in the Qatar Masters earlier this year and recently in the Nordea Masters I felt my game was good despite finishing 32nd, which is still a mystery how I finished 32nd that week as I was hitting my best shots of the week there,” Ilonen said.

“Maybe the good golf is there but then we still have a long way to go this week.”

McIlroy said jetlag, and the late arrival of his clubs after returning from the U.S. Open, contributed to his disappointing showing in front of home fans.

“I was very sloppy with the scoring clubs today, wedges, the short game, the putting,” McIlroy said. “All that was just a little off.

“So hopefully that is my poor round for the week and I can do a better job of that tomorrow and I’ll need something in the low 60s just to be here on the weekend.”