Jean Van de Velde will be back in the Open next week, thanks to a last-hole birdie on Tuesday and the help of the crowd he had criticised 24 hours earlier.

While playing partner Danny Willett, the former amateur world number one, missed out after a closing double-bogey six, Van de Velde survived the 36-hole final qualifying at Hillside by the skin of his teeth with a one under par total of 143.

"I might have taken eight on the hole, but managed to par it," said Van de Velde, who had asked for better control of the spectators after his opening 70.

The 42-year-old, forever to be remembered for his last-hole triple-bogey seven at Carnoustie in 1999, pitched to within 18 inches of the flag on the 439-yard 18th.

But that would have been of no use if his ball had not been found in dense rough right of the 17th fairway.

"The crowd were on my side both days, but just a little bit too close to my side at times," he added.

"People are trying to communicate with you, but sometimes they were so excited they got in my way and I felt I had to say something."

With only four of the 96-strong field qualifying for Royal Birkdale Van de Velde, absent from Carnoustie last year after contracting a virus which even led to tests for bone cancer at one point, tied for second place with amateurs Chris Woods, from Bristol, and Australian Rohan Blizard, three behind Kenilworth's Jamie Elson.

"It means a lot to be playing in it again. There are only two tournaments a year I want to play in and play good in - the French Open and the Open," he added.

"I qualified in 1999 and played quite well I seem to remember, so maybe this is my chance."