Tuesday 24 June 2014 17:29, UK
Defending Congressional champion Bill Haas has welcomed the decision that four players from the competition will qualify for next month's British Open.
Players such as US Open runner-up Erik Compton, Ben Crane, who won the recent St Jude Classic, and twice major winner Angel Cabrera, could benefit from the qualifying plan at the Quicken Loans National, hosted by the Congressional Country Club.
This week's PGA Tour event in Bethesda, Maryland, also features the comeback of 14-times major winner Tiger Woods following a three-month lay-off including back surgery.
The four leading players, who are not already exempt from qualifying for the Open, from the top 12 at the Congressional this week will earn a spot at the British Open at Royal Liverpool.
Haas, who won the AT & T National, as it was then called, at Congressional last year and has already booked his ticket for the Open, said: "I am excited to see that guys will have the chance to qualify for The Open.
"It has been a fantastic experience for me to play in the Open and it really tests your game to play seaside courses in varying wind and weather conditions.
"The atmosphere at the Open is very special and I have received tremendous support from the galleries. I have a top 20 finish under my belt and each year I am becoming more accustomed to the links game."
The British Open, golf's oldest major, will run at Hoylake from July 17 to 20.
