English golfer Simon Khan got an early birthday present on Wednesday when he earned a late call-up to next week's US Open.

Khan, who will turn 38 next Wednesday, was first reserve for the second Major of the season but thanks to compatriot Justin Rose's failure to have won two USPGA tournaments in the past year - his victory in last weekend's Memorial Tournament was not sufficient for him to gain entry - opened up a place.

It completes a remarkable few weeks for Khan, who had to go to the EPGA qualifying school at the end of last season to regain his card for the Tour having reached the lowest ebb of his career.

However, he has since recorded the biggest win of his career in last month's PGA Championship having only received an invitation three days before the start of the tournament.

Khan had an extraordinary final round jumping from 13th to first after a five-under par round of 66 having started the day seven shots adrift and achieved the biggest last-day comeback in the history of the event.

Khan, who claimed victory and the 750,000 euros winners cheque on his wife Lesley's birthday, thought all chance of playing at Pebble Beach next week had disappeared when he just missed out in a play-off in qualifying the day after winning the PGA.

However, Rose's misfortune has opened the way for him to compete in the US Open, which runs from June 17 to June 20 - his win at the PGA has already earned him a place at next month's British Open.

© 2010 AFP/sid