Olazabal in fight for place in The Open

Olazabal will captain the European team at the 2012 Ryder Cup (Getty)

Former major winners Jose Maria Olazabal and Michael Campbell will be among 288 players trying for just 12 places in The Open at the final qualifying competition next Tuesday.

Four courses close to Sandwich are being used for the 36-hole events - Littlestone, Royal Cinque Ports, Prince's and Rye.

Olazabal's competition at Littlestone includes his former Ryder Cup team-mates Peter Baker and Joakim Haeggman, while among Campbell's 71 rivals at Prince's is South African Hennie Otto, first round leader when The Open was last at Royal St George's in 2003.

Paul Broadhurst, whose 63 at St Andrews in 1990 equalled the major record, plays at Royal Cinque Ports, while another ex-Ryder Cup player Jarmo Sandelin is at Rye.

Most of the players taking part are those who came through regional qualifying this Monday.