The R&A is adding a new pathway to The Open Championship with the introduction of the Last-Chance Qualifier. Starting next summer at Royal Birkdale, this 18-hole shootout will give 12 players one final opportunity to earn the last spot in golf’s oldest major.
The qualifier will be held at the Southport links on July 13, the Monday of championship week, with the R&A finalizing the qualification criteria on Tuesday.
Here’s how players can earn a spot in the 12-man field:
- The top two non-exempt players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of July 6
- The British Amateur runner-up (if still an amateur)
- Players who lost in a playoff at Final Qualifying
- Players who missed qualifying by just one shot at Final Qualifying
- Players who tied for qualifying spots in Open Qualifying Series events but lost out due to lower world ranking positions (excluding the Genesis Scottish Open)
The first 12 eligible players to accept their invitations will make up the field, with others placed on a reserve list. It’s worth noting that the top two players via the OWGR will also serve as the first two alternates for the actual Open Championship. If they get into the main field before the Monday qualifier, they’ll be removed from the Last-Chance event.
Had this qualifier existed last year, 29 players would have been eligible through the various categories – six from the first three exemption categories, 19 from the fourth, and four from the fifth.
The qualifier will use a sudden-death playoff if necessary to determine the winner, who’ll claim that final spot in the 156-player Open field. The remaining 11 players won’t go home empty-handed – they’ll be placed on The Open’s reserve list (starting at position No. 3) behind the original two alternates.
This new pathway gives players who narrowly missed qualification through traditional routes one last shot at competing for the Claret Jug.
