Levet in Turnberry field after Quigley declines spot

TURNBERRY, Scotland (Reuters) - Frenchman Thomas Levet has gained a late entry for this week's British Open at Turnberry after American Brett Quigley turned down his exemption for the third major of the year.

Quigley automatically qualified for the Open after tying for second at the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois Sunday but declined to take up his spot.

Levet, 40, secured the berth at Turnberry as the next available player based on the official world rankings, British Open organizers said Monday.

The Frenchman, ranked 82nd, lost out in a four-way playoff for the 2002 British Open at Muirfield, won by South African Ernie Els, but has failed to qualify for the championship for the last three years.

Levet clinched his fifth European Tour title at the Spanish Open in May.

The 138th British Open starts Thursday.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes; Editing by Justin Palmer)