JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL and Jean Van de Velde both hope to grab a place in the British Open tomorrow – after travelling to Scotland from Paris by very different means.

While double Masters champion Olazabal hired a private jet for around €8,000, Van de Velde booked on to a late-night Ryanair flight.

Olazabal, who tees off in the 36-hole final qualifying competition at Kilmarnock Barassie just after noon tomorrow, had waited for an hour after his final round at the French Open to offer Van de Velde a place on his jet.

But the 1999 British Open runner-up had not received the text message that the lift was available, and because his luggage was back at his hotel he had to let it go. Van de Velde, who came through final qualifying with a closing birdie last year and went on to finish 19th at Birkdale, starts at Glasgow Gailes at 8.53am.

A total of 288 players are competing over three courses – Western Gailes is the other – for just 12 spots at Turnberry.

Barry Lane, another former Ryder Cup teammate of Olazabal, was also on the Ryanair flight – and he plays with Olazabal.