Phillip Price begins his quest for the Open today by joining the row over qualification for the event - admitting to the Argus that it is simply too hard for European players to qualify.

Newport-based Price, 37, is the sole Welshman in the field for Troon after the complex qualification process left both Blackwood's Bradley Dredge and former Masters winner Ian Woosnam out in the cold.

Many European Tour professionals have already been critical of the selection and qualification process implemented by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and Price said that the topic is being discussed by players at Troon.

He said: "The qualification process this year has been very odd, everyone seems to be in agreement of that.

"I am surprised and disappointed to be the only Welsh golfer here but to be honest, qualifying has not been at all easy for all the (European) tour guys and it is surely something that must be looked at.

"The new rules help people to qualify around the world but it seems somehow to have gone against the players over here, which shouldn't be the case."

Colin Montgomerie, who won the European Order of Merit a record seven successive years, was one of 15 European Tour players who came through a gruelling 36 hole qualifying tournament at Sunningdale, out of 150 players who entered.

However, others such as Ian Woosnam and Monmouth's David Park were not so lucky and they missed the boat.

Bradley Dredge chose to not even participate in the qualifying because it came just two days before the French Open.

This tough process has been made all the more controversial after 52 Americans pulled out of qualifying in America, with six of the players failing to even mention the fact that they were not turning up.

However, any European golfer looking to gain revenge on the American players this week knows they have a tough task.

Americans have won the Open seven times in the last ten years, with Paul Lawrie the only European winner in the last decade (with his 1999 Carnoustie success).

And Price admits that the American's are likely to be the players to beat once again.

He said: "The American's always seem to do well at the Open and I really don't know why that is.

"In theory the British players should have an advantage with the links courses but the American's that come over seem to do well so we will be expecting them to put up a tough challenge again."