Jose Maria Olazabal faces a stark choice tomorrow - whether to fly Ryanair for under £50 or hire a private jet for about £6,000.

The private jet is the likelier of the two because the double Masters champion thinks the Paris traffic may prevent him getting to Beauvais Airport in time.

Olazabal is heading for Scotland the moment the French Open Alstom ends in order to be at Kilmarnock Barassie lunchtime Monday for the 36-hole Open final qualifying competition.

A total of 288 players do battle in that over three courses for just 12 places at Turnberry - the course on which he played his first Open as a professional back in 1986.

Third behind Tiger Woods and Colin Montgomerie at St Andrews four years ago, Olazabal has failed to make the last two Opens while suffering rheumatic pains.

"I'm still taking anti-inflammatories and some days it flares up, but the pain is decreasing and if I look back three or four months I can see the improvement I've made," he said after a third round 72 left him well down the field at the French Open on two over.

"I want to keep playing The Open as long as I can. It's the only major on this side of the Atlantic and it's a little bit special because it truly represents the tradition and history of the game."

American star Fred Couples is also in the draw for the final qualifying - in his case at Western Gailes - but he made the cut on the US Tour last night and so it remains to be seen if he makes it.