A £400 cheque for his efforts was never going to make him rich, but what he did certainly made him famous - nobody in living memory at the time and certainly nobody since has played worse.

Rounds of 95 and 87, the second of those on the same day that Greg Norman equalled the major record with a 63, meant a 42 over par total.

He was last by 11 shots, but the fact he had fought to the end rather than pulling out - like Ian Baker-Finch after he shot an opening 92 in 1997 - earned him the admiration of others and led to one of the most widely-used sayings of the week.

There is no quit in McQuitty.

Twenty-two years on, the same applies - in a far bigger sense. At Effingham Golf Club in Surrey on Wednesday the 45-year-old, who last year had a kidney transplant and a heart pacemaker fitted, will begin a bid to qualify for The Open again in his first competitive round since 2003.

Now on income support following all his health problems and still facing more heart surgery in a few months' time, McQuitty's £120 entry fee and expenses are being paid by the owners of The Bear pub in Pagham near Bognor Regis.

"There was a time when I never thought I'd be trying again," he said. "I didn't play golf, I didn't read about it and I didn't want to know about it.

"I was diagnosed with kidney disease and high blood pressure in 1995 and began dialysis in December 2004. I was put on the waiting list for a transplant and had two calls in the first six months, but I was a reserve and it never happened.

"I was in hospital for four or five weeks a year. It made keeping a job impossible and all the treatment put so much pressure on my heart that I had some stents (wire mesh tubes) inserted two years ago.

"The pacemaker was fitted in February last year and then last August came the transplant that's changed my life.

"I've not had any rejection and although I'm obviously on a lot of medication morning and night and have to go to hospital every couple of weeks I've been able to look ahead a lot more positively.

"A lot of people have helped me and now I'm getting back into golf. This qualifier is the first step."

To make it all the way through to Royal Birkdale is the dream, naturally, but he knows the odds are stacked against him.

"I'm hoping to get through first stage, but I've no illusions about second stage. It's a lot different to how it was back in 1986."

Wednesday's 18-hole local qualifying at 16 courses around Britain and Ireland is mostly for non-Tour professionals and amateurs and while a far greater number progress from that than used to be the case the 36-hole final qualifying next Monday and Tuesday at three courses near Birkdale sees 288 players competing for only 12 Open spots.

With Tour players now able to go through the alternative route of international qualifying, however, the opportunity does still remain for lesser lights to pursue their dream of lining up against the stars of the game.

"I'd love another crack," adds McQuitty, for whom Turnberry 1986 remains his one and only experience.

"I didn't realise at the time what it was all about - that's my only regret.

"I just want to see where I stand now, then hopefully start playing more and teaching. And in five years I'm eligible for the Seniors Tour, so who knows - you've got to set goals. What's the point otherwise?

"I've learnt a lot about myself these past few years and I've also learnt a lot about other people. It's made me realise where I am, what I have and what to strive for."

What he will always be able to say, of course, is that he was a good enough golfer to have qualified for The Open.

How he did in it should always come second to that - and there have been some famous names who have also finished last.

Remember Sergio Garcia at Carnoustie in 1999? One of the favourites at the time, he shot 89-83 in his first major as a professional.

Baker-Finch, the 1991 champion whose game totally deserted him after his victory, was last at Royal Lytham in 1996 after scoring 76 and 84 - the 92 was to come a year later.

In 1989 at Royal Troon Arnold Palmer had two 82s and was last, in 1987 Australian Craig Parry brought up the rear, in 1977 it was Henry Cotton after rounds of 93 and 82 - he was 70 at the time, mind you - and in 1973 it was another former winner, Ireland's Fred Daly, by following an 83 with 90. He was 61.

Not bad company to keep for McQuitty then. But after all he has been through, it is the present and the future rather than the past he is concentrating on and just stepping onto the first tee at Effingham tomorrow is worthy of celebration.