Dean Burmester was the only South African to emerge from golf’s ‘longest day’ on Monday as he qualified for the US Open Championship at the Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida.

He was also one of only three LIV players out of 17 who tried to qualify to make it into the year’s third major, and, as he has qualified for the Open Championship through his victory at the Investec South African Open Championship, he will play in three majors this year.

Burmester started the 36-hole race for a place at Pinehurst next week very efficiently, as he didn’t drop a shot on his way to a four-under-par 68. That was the second best score of the opening round behind Daniel Berger of the United States who carded a seven-under 65.

But Burmester had a topsy-turvy final 18 holes with his two-under-par 70 containing seven birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey. In the end, that was enough for a share of second at six-under-par, one stroke behind Matt Kuchar of the United States, who had a five-under 67 for his second 18 of the day.

There were five players from the Bear’s Club who qualified from 73 starters, and the highly-rated Joaquin Niemann of Chile, who plays on the LIV circuit, was one who missed out. Thomas Aiken, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace also didn’t qualify.

At the Golf Club of Georgia’s Lakeside Course in Alpharetta, Georgia, Christo Lamprecht was able to card only a level-par 142 with round of 71 and 73 to miss out on a place in the championship that could have been his had he remained an amateur. Also missing out there was Aldrich Potgieter, who carded an eight-under total with rounds of 67 and 69.

One player to watch was Adam Scott, with the former world number one and 2013 Masters champion needing to qualify to keep his incredible 91 major streak going. However, after 39 gruelling holes, he lost to fellow Australian Cam Davis in a play-off.