Along with four others, they battled in a late-night play-off for the last two of 18 spots in the International Final Qualifying at Sunningdale. Two dropped out, leaving York's Dyson, Olazabal and Peter Baker to play the third extra hole.

While Dyson powered a drive of over 300 yards then pitched to six feet from 50 yards and midlander Baker was also on in two, former Ryder Cup ace Olazabal went with a five-wood for safety but mis-hit it into the rough.

He needed to lay up and ended with a five, handing the two spots to Dyson and Baker.

Dyson now makes his sixth appearance in the Open and joins Hull's Richard Finch at Royal Birkdale but fellow former Sand Moor member Iain Pyman missed making the play-off by a couple of shots, carding 72, 68.

Dyson, who shot 65, 71, dropped two shots over the last three holes of regulation play to end up in the play-off.

His extra-time gamble, he said, was the smart play: "It took the bunkers out of the equation to set up a birdie."