How does Open Championship Final Qualifying work?
It’s golf’s oldest major and anyone can take part, but how do the Regional and Final Qualifying events work?
Qualification for The Open was first introduced in 1907, and involves the process a player must go through to play in the prestigious fourth major of the year if they are not otherwise exempt. So just how does Open Qualifying work? And how many spots are filled this way? Let us explain…
Before Final Qualifying, there is Regional Qualifying which in 2024 took place on June 24 across 15 different venues: Bearwood Lakes, Caldy, County Louth, Ferndown, Frilford Heath, Fulford, Goswick, Hesketh, Kedleston Park, Kilmarnock, Minchinhampton, Moor Park, North Hants, Northamptonshire County and Rochester & Cobham Park.
When is Final Qualifying for The Open?
100 players got through this stage and will play at Final Open Qualifying on July 2. Final Open Qualifying will be held at four different venues this year: Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancs, Dundonald Links and Burnham & Berrow.
ALSO: How to qualify for The Open Championship
ALSO: The Open Championship field: Who is playing in 2024?
Last year, Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancs, Dundonald Links and Royal Porthcawl were used for Final Qualifying where 19 players came through the gruelling 36-hole event to make The Open.
A minimum of 16 players will qualify for The Open this year in Final Qualifying.
Although Regional and Final Qualifying is primarily used by professionals and amateurs who haven’t quite cracked it at the top level this year, it is not uncommon to see big names compete on these days that golf fans love flocking to, getting up close to the odd star.
Since the emergence of the LIV Golf League and its current inability to earn Official World Golf Ranking status, the players on the roster have tumbled down the world rankings so much so that in 2023, many of them played in Final Open Qualifying in a bid to play for the Claret Jug.
Sergio Garcia headed to West Lancs last season where he failed to qualify. His former Ryder Cup teammate Graeme McDowell also tried and failed at the same venue.
Laurie Canter, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel all made The Open field 12 months ago via Final Qualifying. As well as LIV players, familiar faces from the DP World Tour such as Alex Fitzpatrick, Matt Wallace and Thomas Detry all used this route in 2023 to earn a place at the final major championship of the year.
Open Championship Final Qualifying breakdown:
Date: July 2
Venues: Royal Cinque Ports, West Lancashire, Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links
151st Open Championship at Royal Troon: July 18-21
NOW READ: Future Open Championship venues
NOW READ: Winners of The Open Championship
Are you excited for Open Championship Final Qualifying? Tell us on X!
Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spoken to the likes of Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, to name just a few.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
