Missing out on The Open at St Andrews by two shots would be cause for doom and gloom in the eyes of most. Not so Jamie Little, who instead insists he has rediscovered his passion for golf.

The Chorleywood and West Herts member, 37, tied for eighth after finishing three under at the final qualifying round at Woburn on Tuesday in a field which included Colin Montgomerie, the man with the most European Tour Order of Merit titles, and two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen.

South African Goosen snuck through via a play-off, whilst Montgomerie’s Open hopes hang by a thread.

Losing out to such esteemed company provided some consolation for Little. But it was scant. The real comfort is the fact his near miss has re-invigorated his love for the sport to the point he will now attempt to again qualify for the European Tour later this year.

Little said: “I have to take the positives. Obviously Colin Montgomerie was there and you are playing against the guys you want to compete against. It proved to me that maybe I should play a lot more.

“I re-discovered my confidence in myself and it has reignited my enthusiasm. I think playing against those sort of guys gives you confidence. Woburn is a proper course too and they have the British Masters there in October as well.”

After shooting a one-over 73 in the first round, Little was always up against it in the second. And yet the former Moor Park member almost managed to pull off an unlikely recovery by shooting a four-under 68.

“I did not play any different in the second round than the first,” he said. “I was one over after my first three and then the next three I missed putts from about six feet.

 “My goal was to beat the course in both rounds but it beat me and I did not feel it deserved to. If I shot one or two under in the first, it would have been very do-able. It was a big ask but I was really proud of myself and pleased with my second round.

“I missed three or four putts from eight to ten feet in the first few holes after lunch. Across both rounds I reckon I missed, in total, eight putts from eight feet which is the difference. If I made two of them I am in. In a field of 72 blokes I finished eighth – and there were some good names playing,” added Little.

Despite the heartbreak of missing out on St Andrews and the chance to rub shoulders with the sport’s stellar names, it has been a remarkable comeback for Little.

Having previously been on the European Tour and Challenge Tour, the Tottenham Hotspur fan took a step back three years ago due to a back injury.

“I started my own company and just continued playing a few Pro-am tournaments to keep me ticking over. But then I started working with a new coach (Peter McEvoy) this year and he has changed my swing and that has helped my back,” explained Little.

“In the last few months I have won a few tournaments, then I won the first qualifying tournament, so going into Woburn I felt really confident.

“To have qualified for The Open would literally have meant everything.

“To play The Open is the be all and end all; it is something to tell your grandchildren.”

Little was one of several local golfers to come up short in the final qualifying round of The Open.

Moor Park pair Callum Shinkwin and Matt Wallace both tied for 19th at the Royal Cinque Ports Course in Kent, finishing two-over-par.

Sandy Lodge’s Joel Field was tied for 51st at 12 over, whilst at Woburn, club-mate Crue Elliot was tied for 52nd after finishing eight over.