Levet makes last-ditch Open bid

Levet won at Loch Lomond in 2004

Former Open runner-up Thomas Levet has one more chance to play in this year's tournament at Carnoustie after missing out in final qualifying at Panmure.

The Frenchman, who was pipped in a play-off at Muirfield by Ernie Els in 2002, will now play in the Scottish Open, which starts on Thursday.

He won the Loch Lomond event in 2004, enabling him to qualify for the Open.

The three men to earn places at Panmure were England's Kevin Harper and Steve Parry and New Zealander Steve Alker.

Zane Scotland, who eight years ago became the youngest player to qualify for the Open, had a nightmare in the final round at Panmure.

The 24-year-old was joint-leader with two holes to play but then had a triple-bogey seven.

Round of the day in final qualifying for the Open came at Montrose, where 40-year-old David Shacklady booked his place at Carnoustie with a 62, just a week after visiting an osteopath about his bad back.

Australian Matthew Zions and Ireland's Justin Kehoe also made the cut for the third major of the season.

The trio to qualify at Monifieth were all amateurs - England's David Coupland and Paul Waring, and Llewellyn Matthews of Wales.

At Downfield, the course where Paul Lawrie qualified in 1999 before going on to win at Carnoustie, English player Jon Bevan and Ireland's David Higgins grabbed the first two spots.

The third was decided after a play-off, with finished second a shot behind and four players went into a play-off for the final spot, which was taken by 2004 Volvo PGA champion Scott Drummond.

Sharapova pull-out angers Russia

Sharapova pull-out angers Russia

Sharapova has been criticised for failing to play for Russia

Maria Sharapova has been accused by Russian tennis officials of putting her own interests ahead of her country after pulling out of the national team.

Sharapova was due to make her debut for Russia in this weekend's Fed Cup semi-final against the United States.

But she has withdrawn from the tie in Vermont, saying she is not match-fit.

Russia's chief tennis coach Vladimir Kamelzon accused Sharapova's entourage of discouraging her from playing for her native country.

"Her closest advisers are Americans and they would never allow her to play for Russia," Kamelzon told the daily Izvestia. "I'm telling you, just forget about all these promises."

Her closest advisers are Americans and they would never allow her to play for Russia Vladimir Kamelzon

Florida-based Sharapova has previously been criticised for failing to play for Russia.

Sharapova has suffered with a persistent shoulder injury since April and was comfortably beaten by eventual champion Venus Williams in the fourth round at Wimbledon last week.

She had been due to play against Spain in April, only to withdraw on the eve of the tie citing a similar injury.