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The Open Championship format and qualification

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The Open Championship qualification was first introduced in 1907, and is the process that a player goes through to qualify for The Open Championship. The Open Championship is the oldest golf competition in the world, and generally regarded as one of the most prestigious.[1] The qualifying structure is designed to reduce more than 2,500 entrants on five continents, to a field size of 156 competing in the tournament.[2]

In the modern era, the main way players qualify is by an exemption due to their performance in major golf tours, major tournaments, or their position in the official world golf rankings. For those who are not exempt, they can qualify by performing well in the Open Qualifying Series of international sanctioned tournaments, or via local qualifying in the UK.[3][4]

The format of the final tournament was originally 36 holes played on a single day, but has evolved to the current format of four days of 18 holes, with the lowest scoring golfers cut after the first 36 holes.

Current qualifying process

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Players can qualify one of four ways, an exemption, via the Open Qualifying Series (OQS), via local qualifying, or if the field size has not reached 156, being one of the highest rated players in the official golf rankings that is not already qualified.

Exemption qualifiers

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Around 65% of the field is exempt from qualifying. Not all those eligible for entry will compete (e.g. older previous Open winners, and injured players).

The current criteria for an exemption is governed by the following rules:[4]

  1. Previous Open Champions aged 55 or under on the final day of the tournament from the 2024 tournament onward (Each year a number of past champions choose not to compete).
    Champions from 2023 and prior are grandfathered until each champion turns 60.
  2. Winners of selected tournaments (for the number of previous years shown in parentheses):
    The Open (10), Masters (5), PGA Championship (5), U.S. Open (5), The Players (3), BMW PGA Championship (3), Open de Argentina (1), Japan Open (1), Diamond Cup Golf (1), The Senior Open (1).
  3. Top 10 and ties from the previous year's Open Championship.
  4. Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking for Week 21 (the Open is Week 29).
  5. Top finishers in the previous season of selected golf tours:
    European Tour's Race to Dubai (30), PGA Tour's FedEx Cup (30), Japan Golf Tour (2), PGA Tour of Australasia (1), Sunshine Tour (1).
  6. Performance in the current year on selected golf tours for Week 25:
    European Tour (top 5 not already exempt, within the top 20), PGA Tour (top 5 not already exempt, within the top 20), Japan Golf Tour (top player not already exempt).
  7. Current holders of selected amateur titles (if they are still amateurs):
    Amateur Champion, U.S. Amateur Champion, European Amateur Champion, Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion, Mark H. McCormack Medal.

Open Qualifying Series

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Around 22% of the field qualify via the Open Qualifying Series. It was introduced in 2014 and replaced international qualifying events run by the Open. Qualifying is available to the leading players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top n and ties, in around twelve events run by several international golf tours. The Open Series Qualifying events since 2019 are:[3]

Location Tournament 2019 2021
Spots Top Spots Top
Australia ISPS Handa Australian Open 3 10 3 10
Africa South African Open 3 10 3 10
Singapore SMBC Singapore Open 4 12 4 12
United States Arnold Palmer Invitational 3 10 3 10
Japan Mizuno Open 4 12 n/a
Morocco Trophée Hassan II n/a n/a
Canada RBC Canadian Open 3 10 n/a
Korea Kolon Korea Open 2 8 n/a
Spain Andalucia Valderrama Masters 3 10 n/a
United States Rocket Mortgage Classic 2 8 n/a
United States Travelers Championship n/a n/a
Ireland Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 3 10 n/a
Scotland Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open 3 10 n/a
United States John Deere Classic 1 5 n/a

Note: 2021 tournament criteria affected by COVID-19

Local and Final qualifying

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Currently 12 players (8% of the field) qualify through final qualifying in the United Kingdom.[5]

Local Qualifying

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Local qualifying begins with 15 events, of 18 holes occurring on a single day just over three weeks before the Open Championship. It is open to those who meet any of the following criteria:

  • Male professional golfer.
  • Male amateur golfer whose playing handicap does not exceed 0.4 (i.e. scratch).
  • Male amateur golfer who has been within World Amateur Golf Ranking listing 1–2,000 during the current calendar year.

A week later, the best performers then progress to final qualifying, where there are four events of 36 holes occurring on a single day, with three qualifiers from each event.[3]

Final Qualifying

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In addition to the best performers at local qualifying, players who meet the following criteria are able to compete in final qualifying:

Note: Any qualifier via an amateur performance must still have amateur status

Alternates

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If the field size has not reached 156, then the highest ranked players not already qualified are offered a spot in the Open.[6]

Current format

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  • Field: 156 players[7]
  • Basic format: 72 hole stroke play. Play 18 holes a day over four days, weather permitting.[7]
  • Date of tournament: Starts on the day before the third Friday in July.[8]
  • Tournament days: Thursday to Sunday.[7]
  • Tee off times: Each player has one morning and one afternoon tee time in first two days in groups of three, which are mostly randomised (with some organiser discretion). Groupings of two on the last two days with last place going off first and leaders going out last.
  • Cut: After 36 holes, only top 70 and ties play the final 36 holes.[7]
  • Playoff: If there is a tie for the lead after 72 holes, a four-hole aggregate playoff is held; followed by sudden death if the lead is still tied.[9]

History of qualification and format

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Qualifying was first introduced from 1907, except 1910–1911, where a 36 hole cut was made instead. 1926 was the first year where there was both a cut and qualifying, and this has been the situation ever since. Qualifying generally happened the day before or shortly before the Open, and everyone was required to qualify until 1962. In 1963 exemptions from qualification began, mainly for past champions, but this has now expanded to cover a multitude of achievements and most of the field now qualify by exemption. In the 1980s, the R&A was concerned that its process was not adequately allowing for players which played on multiple tours, and so actively brought about what is now known as the Official World Golf Ranking to use as part of the exemption process.[10]

In 2004 international qualifying was introduced, which meant that players did not have to travel to the UK to participate in qualifying. This was replaced in 2014 by the Open Qualifying Series, which gave qualifying spots to the best performers in existing global golf events.

The biggest change to the format of the tournament was in 1892 when the tournament was expanded from 36 holes to 72 holes. Another notable change in the rules was making it mandatory to use the "bigger" ball (as was used in America) in 1974.

Year Edition Field size Entry Format Cut Playoff
2023 151th 156 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions aged 60 and under. Local qualifying. Open Qualifying Series. Total of 156 qualify. 72 holes over 4 days. 18 holes a day. Days standardised as Thursday to Sunday. Play in groups of 3 in first 2 days. Leaders go off last after 36 holes. Cut after 36 holes, top 70 and ties. Three-hole playoff followed by sudden death.
2022 150th 156
2021 149th 156
2020 – –
2019 148th 156
2018 147th 156 Four-hole playoff followed by sudden death.
2017 146th 156
2016 145th 156
2015 144th 156
2014 143rd 156
2013 142nd 156 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions aged 60 and under. Local qualifying. International Qualifying. Total of 156 qualify.
2012 141st 156
2011 140th 156
2010 139th 156
2009 138th 156
2008 137th 156
2007 136th 156 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions aged 65 and under. Local qualifying. International Qualifying. Total of 156 qualify.
2006 135th 156
2005 134th 156
2004 133rd 156
2003 132nd 156 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions aged 65 and under. Local qualifying. Total of 156 qualify.
2002 131st 156
2001 130th 156
2000 129th 156
1999 128th 156
1998 127th 156
1997 126th 156
1996 125th 156
1995 124th 159 Cut after 36 holes, top 70 and ties. Those within 10 shots of the leader not cut.
1994 123rd 156 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions under 65. Local qualifying. Total of 156 qualify.
1993 122nd 156
1992 121st 156
1991 120th 156
1990 119th 156
1989 118th 156
1988 117th 153 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions under 65. Local qualifying. Total of 153 qualify.
1987 116th 153
1986 115th 153
1985 114th 153 Cut after 36 holes, top 80 and ties. Cut after 54 holes, top 60 and ties. Those within 10 shots of the leader not cut. 18 hole playoff followed by sudden death.
1984 113th 156
1983 112th 151 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions. Local qualifying. Total of 150 qualify.
1982 111th 150
1981 110th 153
1980 109th 151
1979 108th 152 72 holes over 4 days. 18 holes a day. Days standardised as Wednesday to Saturday. Play in groups of 3 in first 2 days. Leaders go off last after 36 holes.
1978 107th 155
1977 106th 156 Cut after 36 holes, top 80 and ties. Cut after 54 holes, top 60 and ties.
1976 105th 155
1975 104th 153
1974 103rd 154
1973 102nd 153
1972 101st 153 72 holes over 4 days. 18 holes a day. Days standardised as Wednesday to Saturday. Leaders go off last after 36 holes.
1971 100th 150
1970 99th 134 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions. Local qualifying. Total of 130 qualify. Cut after 36 holes, top 80 and ties. Cut after 54 holes, top 55 and ties.
1969 98th 130 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including all previous Open champions. Local qualifying. Playoff for those tied for final places. Total of 130 qualify. Cut after 36 holes, top 70 and ties. Cut after 54 holes, top 45 and ties.
1968 97th 130
1967 96th 130 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including past 10 Open champions. Local qualifying. Playoff for those tied for final places. Total of 130 qualify. Cut after 36 holes, top 55 and ties.
1966 95th 130
1965 94th 130 72 holes over 3 days. 18 holes on the first 2 days, 36 on the 3rd day. Days standardised as Wednesday to Friday. Leaders go off last after 36 holes. Cut after 36 holes, top 45 and ties.
1964 93rd 120 Exemption from qualifying for the leading players including past 10 Open champions. Local qualifying in two separate competition. Two courses near the Open venue are used but not the Open venue itself. Playoff for those tied for final places. Total of 120 qualify.
1963 92nd 120 36 hole playoff.
1962 91st 119 Local qualifying. Maximum of 120 players qualify. Ties for 120th place did not qualify Cut after 36 holes, maximum of 50 players. Ties for 50th place do not make the cut.
1961 90th 108
1960 89th 74 Local qualifying. Maximum of 100 players qualify. Ties for 100th place did not qualify.
1959 88th 90
1958 87th 96
1957 86th 96
1956 85th 96 72 holes over 3 days. 18 holes on the first 2 days, 36 on the 3rd day. Days standardised as Wednesday to Friday.
1955 84th 94
1954 83rd 97
1953 82nd 91
1952 81st 96
1951 80th 98
1950 79th 93 Cut after 36 holes., maximum of 40 players. Ties for 40th place do not make the cut.
1949 78th 96
1948 77th 97
1947 76th 100
1946 75th 100
1945 – – Local qualifying. Maximum of 130 players qualify. Ties for 130th place did not qualify. Cut after 36 holes, maximum of 44 players. Ties for 44th place do not make the cut.
1944 – –
1943 – –
1942 – –
1941 – –
1940 – –
1939 74th 129
1938 73rd 120 Cut after 36 holes, maximum of 40 players. Ties for 40th place do not make the cut.
1937 72nd 141 Local qualifying. Top 140 and ties qualify. Cut after 36 holes, top 40 and ties.
1936 71st 107 Local qualifying. Top 100 and ties qualify. Cut after 36 holes, top 60 and ties.
1935 70th 109
1934 69th 101
1933 68th 117
1932 67th 110
1931 66th 109
1930 65th 112
1929 64th 109 Cut after 36 holes, top 60 and ties, and those within 14 strokes.
1928 63rd 113 Cut after 36 holes. Those 15 or more strokes behind the leader are excluded from the final day.
1927 62nd 108
1926 61st 117 Regional qualifying used. Total of 101 and ties qualify at one of three venues (southern, central, northern).
1925 60th 83 Local qualifying using two courses. Generally the Championship course is used together with a nearby course. Top 80 and ties qualify. 72 holes over 2 days. 36 holes on each day. No cut.
1924 59th 86
1923 58th 88
1922 57th 80
1921 56th 85
1920 55th 82 Separate qualifying for amateurs and professionals. Amateurs qualify at the Open venue (total of 8 places with the Amateur Champion receiving automatic entry). Professionals qualified using two courses in Surrey. Top 72 and ties qualify.
1919 – – Qualifying over two days using two local courses. Exactly 100 players qualify. 18-hole playoff the following day for those tied for final places.
1918 – –
1917 – –
1916 – –
1915 – –
1914 54th 100
1913 53rd 65 Players play 36 championship course holes on one of three days. Top 20 and ties qualify on each day.
1912 52nd 62
1911 51st 226 No qualifying. 72 holes over 4 days. 36 spread over 3 days, 36 on the 4th day. Cut after 36 holes, top 60 and ties make the cut.
1910 50th 210 72 holes over 3 days. 18 holes on the first 2 days, 36 on the 3rd day.
1909 49th 69 36 championship course hole qualifying in 2 groups. 30 from each group qualify. At least 30 pros in each group. 72 holes over 2 days. 36 holes on each day. No cut.
1908 48th 65 36 championship course hole qualifying in 2 groups. 30 from each group qualify.
1907 47th 67
1906 46th 181 No Qualifying 72 holes over 3 days. 18 holes on the first 2 days, 36 on the 3rd day. Cut after 36 holes. Those 15 or more strokes behind the leader are excluded.
1905 45th 148
1904 44th 144 Cut after 36 holes. Those 20 or more strokes behind the leader are excluded.
1903 43rd 124 72 holes over 2 days. 36 holes on each day.
1902 42nd 112
1901 41st 100
1900 40th 81
1899 39th 98
1898 38th 76
1897 37th 88 No Cut.
1896 36th 63
1895 35th 73
1894 34th 94
1893 33rd 72
1892 32nd 60
1891 31st 84 36 holes over 1 day.
1890 30th 39
1889 29th 48
1888 28th 50
1887 27th 40
1886 26th 42
1885 25th 60
1884 24th 28
1883 23rd 34
1882 22nd 40
1881 21st 22
1880 20th 30
1879 19th 47
1878 18th 27
1877 17th 24
1876 16th 34
1875 15th 18
1874 14th 32
1873 13th 27
1872 12th 8
1871 – –
1870 11th 20
1869 10th 14
1868 9th 12
1867 8th 14
1866 7th 16
1865 6th 12
1864 5th 16
1863 4th 14
1862 3rd 8
1861 2nd 18
1860 1st 8 Invitational

References

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  1. ^ "The Open Heritage". The Open. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ "British Open Rules". Golf Week. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "Qualification". The Open. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Exemptions". The Open. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. ^ "PGA Tour Media – The Open Championship". PGA Tour. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Graeme McDowell Among 11 Alternates Added to British Open". Golf.com. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d "British Open 2018: Frequently Asked Questions". GolfWorld. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. ^ "Future Men's Major Championships - dates and venues". Supersport. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  9. ^ Scrivener, Peter (13 July 2024). "All you need to know about The Open 2024". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ^ "How the ranking evolved". OWGR. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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