The R&A has changed its exemption policy for this year’s Open at Royal Liverpool and potentially created an extra place for amateurs.
Regional and Final Qualifying will take place as normal but this year, for the first time, the player who accumulates the most cumulative World Amateur Golf Ranking points at the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship and European Amateur Championship will earn an Open spot.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director (Championships) at The R&A, said, “We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in The Open at Royal Liverpool.
“We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year.”
The St Andrews Trophy (June 9-11), The Amateur (June 19-24) and The European Amateur (June 28-July 1st) are once again set to attract the best players in Europe with the added incentive dangled by the R&A.
However The Amateur and European Amateur champions already earn a place in The Open so in the event of the winner of either (or both) also finishing top of the mini-points table, that Royal Liverpool spot will go back on to the general reserve list with no guarantee an amateur will take it.
Regional Qualifying takes place across 13 venues on June 26th and Final Qualifying follows on July 4th with Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire hosting. The top four from each will play in The 151st Open.