The R&A Announced Qualifying Series for 155th Open
The R&A has confirmed the international qualifying schedule for the tournament taking place at St Andrews.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Golf
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The R&A has released its official qualifying schedule for the 155th Open, which will be held at St Andrews. The series encompasses 19 events spanning 15 different countries.
Why it matters
The R&A reviews exemption categories annually to ensure that qualification spots for The Open accurately reflect current performance across global professional golf tours.
The qualifying path includes 19 separate events across 15 nations, with three spots explicitly available at the Capital.com Australian Open. The status of LIV Golf exemptions remains pending.
The players
The R&A
The R&A is the governing body for golf in Great Britain and Ireland and organizes The Open Championship.
The details
Golfers will compete for entry through professional tournaments on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, and others, with specific Final Qualifying held at venues including Burnham & Berrow. Additional spots are available through both regional and final stages, providing pathways for both professional and amateur players.
Timeline
The FedEx Open de France begins the qualifying series in September 2026.
Qualifying events in Spain, Japan, and Hong Kong take place in October 2026.
The Capital.com Australian Open offers three qualifying places in December 2026.
The New Zealand Open and an Argentine tournament occur in February 2027.
Final Qualifying events take place at multiple locations on 29 June 2027.
Season Trajectory
The announcement formalizes the road to St Andrews, shaping the global competitive field for the 155th Open. The qualifying series effectively creates a meritocratic path that dictates which players earn entry into the season's premier major tournament.
Players across multiple tours now have a set roadmap to earn their spots in the field at St Andrews. The inclusion of 19 events ensures that performance on tours ranging from the Sunshine Tour to the PGA Tour remains the primary metric for qualification.
The takeaway
The Open maintains its status as an inclusive major by offering diverse qualifying paths for professional and amateur golfers alike. Competitors must monitor the specific exemption statuses as the R&A continues to refine its entry criteria.
Further reading
Learn more about upcoming tournament paths on the Golf section.
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend more local golf tournaments following recent updates to qualifying pathways?
