Premier League hero ‘gutted’ as hopes of competing at Open are crushed – 'I might cry'
Ex-footballer and Soccer AM star Jimmy Bullard has had to withdraw from a qualifying event for The Open due to a debilitating back injury.
The 45-year-old was set to compete at Rochester and Cobham Park on Monday but took to Instagram to break the news to his fans, reports the Express.
In a heartfelt message to his 549,000 followers, Bullard said: "Right boys and girls how are we? This message goes to all of you Golf Life legends. I've just got off the phone to Tubes and Ange, we've had to pull out today - you've probably seen a post already - for the Road To The Open.
"I had an Open qualifier Monday at Rochester and Cobham, we had a load going down there and we've had to leave it as late as possible. Spoke to the RNA today, I've had to pull out. So gutted boys and girls, my back has completely gone."
Bullard, who is currently on the mend, confessed that his lack of practice would have affected his performance, adding: "It's getting better slowly but I haven't hit any balls for three weeks and I'm no good. I've got to hit some balls."
He concluded with the tough decision he had to make: "I may have been able to get down there and play - take some serious tablets and got through it - but not hitting any balls before I'd be all over the show. I finally pulled the plug today, I was leaving it later and later but deep down I knew that I wouldn't be able to do it.
Jimmy Bullard during the Pro-Am prior to the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 13, 2023 in Virginia Water, England.
"I apologise, the two boys are all gutted. I don't know what to say really, I'm a bit gutted - I might even cry in a minute, what about that?"
The Open truly is open to all, offering 26 different routes for qualification including securing a spot through the World Golf Rankings or by victory at other tournaments. Bullard, however, was pinning his hopes on getting through via a qualifying event.
Whether the player is an amateur or professional, as long as they hold a scratch handicap or better, there's the chance to join a regional qualifier for £150. Roughly 100 out of the estimated 2,000 competitors will then make it through to the Final Open Qualifying event, along with some players who manage to bypass the initial rounds.
In this stage, over 36 holes, at least 16 spots in the prestigious tournament are up for grabs - the four players with the lowest scores get the golden ticket to Scotland's Royal Troon this year.
Bullard previously expressed confidence about his chances of making the cut when speaking to The Express earlier this month. He commented: "I've been around some Open qualifiers. I've caddied for some players and I know that one or two under can get you in.
"I've got that in my locker. When I play and I'm on it, I've got that. I know I have. That's all it'll need. It's just one round [in the regionals] so anyone can shoot lights out and get the flushes. You've seen me get the flushes! It's possible. That would be our Open, to get to that second [qualifying stage] which is a proper tour event - that would be amazing."
jimmy bullard of wigan athletic
After retiring from football with MK Dons in 2012, Bullard turned his attention to golf and now competes against professional golfers on the Golf Life YouTube channel, alongside former Soccer AM star Tubes and his brother Ange.
Discussing how he became involved with the channel, he said: "Soccer AM was coming to an end, the boys had been doing [the channel] for two or three years and they asked me to join."
"To be fair, it's just snowballed out of control. It's full-time! Them boys are full-time. We're jet-setting. It's only getting bigger and we just want to shoot good content, we love it. Grab a guest from anywhere, get the sticks out and we'll have a slap and a talk."
The Open this year will be held at Royal Troon in Scotland from July 14 to July 21., and Bullard has promised to give it another shot next year.
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