Simon Khan qualifies for US Open a day after Wentworth defeat

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Simon Khan

Simon Khan put his BMW PGA Championship play-off defeat behind him to secure his place at next month's US Open.

A day after he lost a four-hole play-off to Matteo Manassero at Wentworth, the Englishman carded a 67 and 70 to qualify in first place.

"I only slept about half an hour and I even thought about pulling out but this is my job," said Khan after the 36-hole qualifying event at Walton Heath.

England's Paul Casey and Jaco van Zyl of South Africa also qualified.

It is the first time three-time Ryder Cup player Casey has competed in qualifying for a major in his 13-year professional career.

However, the Englishman was required to do so for the second major of the year at Merion after slipping to 157th in the world rankings.

"I don't know much about Merion, so I will have to do my homework," said Casey, who will make his 10th US Open appearance after finishing a shot behind Khan along with Van Zyl.

"But now that I have got through the qualifier, there is no reason why you can't compete in the US Open. Michael Campbell showed that when he qualified here in 2005 and then won at Pinehurst."

Australia's Marcus Fraser, England's Eddie Pepperell, Sweden's Peter Hedblom and Denmark's Morten Orum Madsen also qualified, but six players were locked together for the five remaining spots, forcing a play-off.

Europe's victorious Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal was successful, along with Scotland's Chris Doak, Argentina's Estanislao Goya and England duo David Howell and John Parry.

Sweden's Rikard Karlberg missed out.

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