How does qualifying for The Open work?
How the 112 exemptions are made up
The first 17 places were taken by previous Open champions under the age of 60 on 20 July 2025. Tiger Woods is one of six players who would have qualified via this route, but opted not to take up a place.The next exemption would have gone to the winners of The Open between 2014 and 2024, but they had already qualified.The next nine places were taken by players who featured inside or in ties for the top 10 at the 2024 Open. World number one Scottie Scheffler and former world number one Justin Rose qualified here, while Billy Horschel opted not to play after surgery.Next, 39 places were taken from players in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking in week 21 of the season season that had not already qualified.The next 17 places were taken by players in the top 25 of the 2024 Race to Dubai rankings who had not yet qualified.The seventh qualification criteria was the three recent winners of the BMW PGA Championship who were yet to have qualified.The winners of the Masters and US Open between 2020 and 2025, as well as the PGA Championships winners from 2019 to 2025, were the next to qualify.After that, any player who finished in the top 30 of the 2024 FedEx Cup points list was granted a place.The three most recent winners of the Players Championship, as well as the top five players in the 2025 FedEx Cup points list after the Rocket Classic, were the next to qualify. However, all eight players who would have earned qualification via this had already qualified.After that, the top five players from the 2025 LIV Golf League's individual standings after LIV Golf Dallas qualified, which is why Sergio Garcia will appear.With 2024 Olympic gold medallist Scheffler already confirmed, the next place went to the 2025 winner of the Argentinian Open.After that, the top five players from the OWGR's international federation ranking list qualified.The next places went to the 2024 winners of the Japan Open and Senior Open.Jose Luis Ballester, Luke Clanton and Ding Wenyi qualified next as amateurs after winning the 2024 US Amateur, Mark H McCormack Medal and Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships. In order to do so, they all had to remain amateurs but opted to turn professional instead.Justin Hastings, Bryan Newman, Ethan Fang, Filip Kajubcik and Cameron Adam have all qualified as amateurs and have kept that status.
What about the qualifiers?
Of the 44 qualification spots, 24 were spread across the Open Qualifying Series - made up of 11 events across the globe.The Scottish Genesis Open will decide the last three of those 24 spots, with the best three players yet to qualify granted places.The final 20 spots are filled at final qualifying, made up of those who advanced out of regional qualifying, held on 23 June.The four final qualifying events offer five qualification places at each of them.Former Ryder Cup players Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Luke Donald, as well as Poulter's son Luke, are among those taking part in final qualifying.All four final qualifying events are played across 36 holes on one day.
2026's last-chance qualifier
The R&A has announced a new last-chance qualifier to take place at Royal Birkdale before next year's Open.It will consist of up to 12 players in action, with just one qualification place available following one round of 18 holes.In the announcement, the R&A said fans wanted "more opportunities to watch live golf" and to "celebrate the Championship's unique traditions".Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said: "We have introduced new features which we believe will elevate The Open for fans, particularly on the days leading up to the Championship, providing a memorable experience of attending Royal Birkdale with friends and family next year."This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
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