Kurt Barnes has the chance to pull off a unique double if he can finish in the top-four at this week’s Gateway to the Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Tour.

Barnes survived a five for three play-off
to earn a spot at the US Open in a qualifier earlier this week and with the
top-four of this week’s tournament awarded a spot in the Open Championship he
has a chance to make it a major week.

Barnes is one of 12 Australians in the
field which includes former winners Brendan Jones and Brad Kennedy.

Kennedy, runner-up last week, will be one
of the favourites this week at a tournament where he has never missed the cut.

In his four starts for 2015 Kennedy hasn’t
finished worse than T31 and has broken 70 in 10 of his 16 rounds to date.

Australia’s most successful Japan Tour
player Brendan Jones has twice hoisted the trophy at this event and will be
among the favourites also.

A wrist injury last year saw Jones out of
the game for several months and since returning full time this year he has
struggled to find the form which has propelled him to 13 titles.

With two missed cuts in four starts he will
be looking to turn things around soon and playing on a course where he has had
much success might be just the tonic needed for his game.

Adam Bland and Michael Hendry will also be
in the pre-tournament conversation as both seem to be coming into their own
after maiden victories this season.

The pair lead the money list through four
events and Hendry finished T6 at this event in each of the past two years.

Also in the field this week are Peter
Wilson, Scott Strange, David Smail, Matt Griffin, Won Joon Lee, Steve Conran
and Matthew Guyatt.