Television viewing figures for next month's US Open can expect a bump after China's Liang Wenchong ensured he would make his debut at the year's second major by topping sectional qualifying in Japan.
The 35-year-old will be the first mainland Chinese to play in all four majors after posting a second round five-under-par 66 for a nine-under-par 133 - enough to win by a stroke - at the Nara International Golf Club, securing his spot at the June 12-15 tournament at Pinehurst in North Carolina.
Liang was the first golfer from his country to play in the PGA Championship in 2007, the first to make the cut at a major when he got through to the weekend at the 2008 British Open and also played at the US Masters on an invitation that same year.
Meanwhile, a day after finishing second in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Ireland's Shane Lowry booked his place by heading the international sectional qualifier in England.
Lowry carded rounds of three-under-par 69 on the New Course in the morning and five-under 67 on the Old in the afternoon to lead 14 successful qualifiers from a starting field of 105 at Walton Heath, Surrey.
"It was really tough out there," said Lowry, a double winner on the European Tour.