Ash Hall, a regular in the Holden Scramble Championship Final for the last decade, produced scintillating golf in the 2016 season to book his second start in The Open, one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world.

Hall was forced to tee off his season in Qualifying School after losing his status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia following a disappointing stint in the U.S.

A win at his home club of Huntingdale in the Victorian PGA Championship early in the year marked the start of a blistering season and more importantly, re-invigorated Hall’s love for the game he was very close to giving away.

“It was great start it really spurred me on and I thought I could have a good year, then it was a bit rough in the middle where I had to stick with it,” Hall said.

“The end of the year was really good and it turned out to be an awesome year, it certainly turned out to be my best ever.”

It was an emotional win for the Victorian who had all but signed off on his career as a Tour Professional, instead, after picking up a checque for $16,500 in his first win on Tour in six years, went on to a T29 finish in the ISPS HANDA Perth International, collecting another $14,550 and setting the platform for another year on the circuit.

What followed was a string of solid performances in his next five events before a disastrous run of four missed cuts in a row prior to the 2016 Emirates Australian Open.

Hall pushed one of the world’s best golfers in Jordan Spieth all the way to the edge in a three-way playoff alongside fellow Aussie Cameron Smith for the title.

While Spieth’s class eventually got him over the line, Hall had done enough to seal his spot in the third Major on the golfing calendar.

“I’ve been in a lot of playoffs, both times I’ve won the Vic PGA in a playoff, I’ve also lost two in the U.S and lost one in New Zealand so it’s nothing new,” added Hall.

“The playoff at the Australian Open was absolutely amazing, not many better settings than the 18^th hole at Royal Sydney especially with so many people yelling and screaming.

“I would’ve loved to have hit a better putt but it is what it is.”

Rounding out Hall’s season was a fourth place finish in the Australian PGA Championship, a just reward for his dedication over those last 12 months.

Since then, Hall has made no secret his eyes have been on The Open Championship.

The 147^th edition is this year held at Royal Birkdale, a layout not unfamiliar to Hall who played the links course in The Amateur Championship some 12 years ago in 2005.

“I love Birkdale, I played The Amateur there in 2005 so it will be nothing new to me,” Hall said.

It’s also his second appearance in the Major having made it through International Final Qualifying in 2012 which was held at Royal Birkdale.

“I’ve been searching for places to play that are windy and have some bounce; I went on a golf break during the off-season down to Tasmania and played in some wind at King Island and Barnbougle so I might even make another trip down there because it’s so different to what we normally play in.

“I’ve got half an eye on that week in July, everything is already organized and it’s always on my mind.”

A despised outsider with the bookmakers, the affable Australian will certainly have the lion’s share of support from the Scrambler’s he’s partnered over the last 10 years when the tournament get’s underway on 16 July.