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QUALIFICATION
There are a number of different qualification pathways into The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
The panels below provide further information on exemption categories for the Championship, which are reviewed each year to ensure that avenues are available for golfers around the world, along with the events that make up the Open Qualifying Series.
Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place in summer 2026, along with a new Last-Chance Qualifier event offering another route into golf's original championship.
Our qualification tracker will be updated throughout the year as players gain exemptions and earn a place at The 154th Open.
Qualification events
Regional and Final Qualifying events will be open to professional and amateur golfers worldwide who meet the entry criteria.
These will take place at venues around Great Britain and Ireland ahead of the Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Regional Qualifying will be held on 22 June 2026, with further details to be announced, while Final Qualifying is on 30 June 2026 at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire.
For the first time a new Last-Chance Qualifier event will be staged in the week of the Championship. This will take place on 13 July 2026, at Royal Birkdale, with one final place at The Open available. Further details on this will be announced in due course.
Qualification tracker
Some of the world's best golfers have already secured an exemption for The 154th Open.
Many others will need to qualify for Royal Birkdale between now and the first tee shot on 16 July, 2026.
Our qualification tracker features a full schedule of qualification pathways, along with a list of players already exempt, and will be updated throughout the year.
