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.
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.
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]
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
Currently 12 players (8% of the field) qualify through final qualifying in the United Kingdom. [5]
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:
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]
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
If the field size has not reached 156, then the highest ranked players not already qualified are offered a spot in the Open. [6]
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 |
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