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The R&A announced in June that it would host a last-chance on-site qualifier for the Open Championship beginning next year at Royal Birkdale. There will be 12 players in a winner-take-all competition where one will advance directly into the championship (July 16-19) that will start three days later. It’s essentially a Monday qualifier like the old days on the PGA Tour, but for one of the four biggest prizes in the game.
On Tuesday, the R&A announced the eligibility for the qualifier, putting into picture the criteria for how they’re going to select the 12 players who will play in the 18-hole competition Monday morning (July 13) at Royal Birkdale.
Here is how the field will be determined:
- The top two players not eligible for the Open in the Official World Golf Ranking published on July 6.
- The runner-up in the British Amateur if still an amateur on July 13.
- Players who were in a playoff in final qualifying but did not advance.
- Players who finished one position behind those who secured a place at final qualifying.
- Players who were tied for a qualifying place in events that are part of the Open Qualifying Series (excluding Scottish Open) but failed to qualify because they were ranked lower in the world ranking.
“We have also developed eligibility criteria for the Last-Chance Qualifier which stays true to the traditions of The Open and our qualification process,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, chief championships officer at the R&A. “Every golfer who tees it up at Royal Birkdale will have earned the right to do so and we look forward to seeing which player emerges from the field in the Last-Chance Qualifier to seal their place in the Championship.”
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Main Image: David Cannon / The R&A
