Golfer Matt Ford has sacrificed Open ambitions after qualifying for his biggest tournament in eight years.

Bearsted man Ford won a play-off at Apremont GC to reach the Alstom Open de France, at Le Golf National in Paris.

The 35-year-old was due at Local Final Qualifying for The Open Championship in Scotland on Tuesday. But he’s pulled out to prepare for the French Open, which starts on Thursday July 4 and is headlined by former world No.1 Luke Donald and Lee Westwood.

Ford said: “It was a tough decision because The Open is my favourite tournament and I’m playing nicely. I would have fancied my chances of qualifying. But the French Open is a huge event.

"It’s the biggest tournament I’ve qualified for since the PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2005 and I can’t go into it half-heartedly.

“I’ve never played the course before, so it’s important I get in a couple of practice rounds.

“I want to go there and enjoy it and if I can finish in the top 30, it would be a good achievement."