A revised format will be used in Regional and Final Qualifying for The 149^th Open at Royal St George’s due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional and Final Qualifying will now be played at Hollinwell (home of Notts), Prince’s, St Annes Old Links and West Lancashire so that the measures required by the UK government guidance in relation to staging events and international travel are consistent between venues.

Golfers entering Regional Qualifying will compete over 18 holes of stroke play at one of the four venues on Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 June. Successful qualifiers will then progress to Final Qualifying at the same venue on Tuesday 29 June and contend for a place in golf’s original championship over 36 holes of stroke play.

A minimum of 12 places in The 149^th Open will be on offer through Final Qualifying, with a starting field of 288 golfers across the four venues.

Entries were required to be submitted to The R&A by Thursday 20 May. For player entry information relating to Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying, click here.

The R&A has confirmed that all Regional and Final Qualifying events will be played behind closed doors with no spectators. Access to each venue will be restricted to players, caddies, volunteers and officials only. This is due to the health and safety measures that are required to minimise the risk of Covid-19 transmission at each venue. We understand that spectators will be disappointed, but will hopefully appreciate that these measures are necessary in the current circumstances.