Eddie Pepperell described qualifying for his first Open Championship at St Andrews as the “icing on the cake”.

The 24-year-old Abingdon ace narrowly missed out on a first win on the European Tour on Sunday, losing out in a three-way play-off to Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open to finish tied for second.

However, Pepperell’s best showing on the tour guaranteed him a place at the 144th Open Championship on July 16.

It will be his second appearance at one of golf’s four majors after qualifying for the US Open in 2013.

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And the Frilford Heath professional also broke into the top 100 for the first time, moving up 44 places in the world rankings to a career-high 95.

With family and friends already planning to make the trip to Scotland, Pepperell will not be short of support at St Andrews.

“It is definitely the icing on the cake – going there will be really cool,” he said.

“I knew family and friends were going up there already and they will have someone to cheer for – it will be brilliant.

“Especially at St Andrews, it has the making of being a great week.

“It’s great, it did not cross my mind until I walked off the 18th and my caddie told me.”

On breaking into the top 100, which gives Pepperell a strong chance of playing the US PGA Championship in August, he added: “That is good.

“If I keep doing what I am doing that will only improve.

“There maybe a major out of that if I am there at some point in the year.”

Despite starting the final round seven shots back, Pepperell defied strong winds to card a bogey-free 69 to tie for the lead at two-under-par and go into his first tour play-off.

Kjeldsen’s birdie at the first hole denied him a maiden victory, but securing a debut appearance at his home major capped a positive week.

Pepperell said: “It would have been lovely to have won, but on the face of it a play-off is a play-off.

“I just want to play well over the first two days so I can build a good four rounds and go into Sunday in a much better position.

“I am at a level where winning is difficult and I am trying to get my game to a point where I am better than the rest of the field.”

There is no rest for Pepperell, who is back in action on Thursday at the Nordea Masters in Sweden.