Soccer AM legend Jimmy Bullard on verge of tears after Open dream left in tatters

Jimmy Bullard playing golf

Jimmy Bullard has announced he's had to pull out of a qualifying tournament for The Open due to a back injury. The 45-year-old former footballer-turned-Soccer AM presenter was supposed to appear at Rochester and Cobham Park on Monday, but he recently revealed he is unable to play.

Taking to Instagram, Bullard told his 549,000 followers: "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."

While he's on the road to recovery, Bullard admitted that he hasn't been able to practice for the last three weeks - meaning he would be sloppy on the course if he decided to power through. He added: "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.

"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.

"I apologise, the two boys are all gutted." He added: "I don't know what to say really, I'm a bit gutted - I might even cry in a minute, what about that?"

Jimmy Bullard swinging

Anyone can play in The Open with 26 ways of qualifying in total, from being in the top 50 in the World Golf Rankings to winning other tournaments. Bullard planned on making the cut, however, by attending a qualifying event.

Both professionals and amateurs who hold a scratch handicap or better can enter a regional qualifier for £150, with around 100 of the estimated 2,000 making a Final Open Qualifying event with others who were able to bypass initial qualifiers. Players compete across 36 holes in this round for a minimum of 16 spots in the tournament - with the four players with the lowest scores securing a spot at Scotland's Royal Troon this year.

Speaking to The Express earlier this month, Bullard said that he has it in his locker to qualify for the tournament when the time is right. He explained: "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."

Bullard turned to golf after hanging his boots up at MK Dons in 2012, and currently gives pro golfers a run for their money on the Golf Life YouTube channel alongside fellow ex-Soccer AM star Tubes and his brother Ange. Speaking about the channel's formation, he added: "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."

This year's Open takes place at Scotland's Royal Troon between July 14 and July 21. Bullard has vowed to have another crack next year.