BIRCHWOOD Golf Club professional Phil Archer will be bidding to qualify for the Open Championship on Monday after an impressive performance at the US Open.

Archer, who returns to European Tour action in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland today, Thursday, will head down to Sunningdale in Berkshire on Monday and attempt to qualify for his second major tournament.

The 34-year-old goes into the European qualifying event brimming with confidence after rounds of 72, 72, 75 and 78 gave him a tied 48th finish at the US Open, which ended on Sunday.

Archer, who lives in Newton, even looked like one of the contenders for the title after two-and-a-half rounds, when he was in the top 10 on four over par, but finished the tournament at Winged Foot, New York, on 17 over.

That was still only 12 shots behind the eventual winner, Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, who could only complete four rounds on a brutally tough course on five over par.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the tournament," said Archer.

"It was a real test and it could be the toughest course I ever play on, but it was a fantastic week and I was happy with how I played.

"The third day was probably my best even though I shot 75.

"The end of the tournament was a little bit disappointing but even then I didn't play too badly.

"I was shattered because it was 95 degrees out there and if you play it a bit off line you end up with a terrible lie.

"To see the leaderboard on the first few days with the likes of Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and see yourself right in the middle of them was great. It does enter your head that you could win it.

"It has given me a real taste of it and makes me want to get back."

And Archer, who has moved up from 374th to 262nd in the world rankings this year, could guarantee a first appearance at the major he regards as 'the biggest tournament in the world' if he fares well at Sunningdale.

He will play an intensive 36 holes on the day and has to finish in the top 12 in the 120-man field to make the Open, which will be held at Hoylake on the Wirral between July 20 and 23.

And he believes his recent form gives him a great chance to qualify after 12 previous failed attempts.

He said: "I'm looking forward to qualifying and with the way I'm playing there's no reason why I can't make it.

"I am one of the guys in form and it would be fantastic to qualify.

"It would allow people from Warrington to come and see me play, and it would top off a great year."