The road to The 148th Open at Royal Portrush will begin at the Emirates Australian Open, the first of 16 events in 11 countries that will make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2019.
The Emirates Australian Open, which is being played from 15-18 November at The Lakes in Sydney, will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal Portrush next year.
The leading three players, who finish in the top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The Open.Three new events on the PGA TOUR will also feature in the Series for the first time: the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard being played from 7-10 March at Bay Hill, the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club from 6-9 June and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit from 27-30 June.
The Open Qualifying Series will also visit Spain for the first time as the Andalucía Valderrama Masters on the European Tour replaces the Open de France in the schedule.
It will be played from 27-30 June.A total of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, “The race to qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush has well and truly begun and we are eagerly anticipating an exciting series of events as golfers around the world aim to book their place at the Championship.
“We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland ” JohnnieCole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A
“We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland in almost 70 years and it will undoubtedly act as an extra incentive for those players who are hopeful of teeing it up at the famous Dunluce links in July.”
The South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg will replace the Joburg Open following a merger of the two events.
It will be played at Randpark, Johannesburg from 6-9 December this year when three qualifying places will be on offer. Four places in The Open will be available at both the SMBC Singapore Open which is being played at Sentosa Golf Club and The Mizuno Open taking place at The Royal Golf Club in Japan.
On the PGA TOUR, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and RBC Canadian Open will each have three qualifying places while two golfers will qualify from the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The last qualifying place will be confirmed at the John Deere Classic on the eve of The 148th Open.
On the European Tour, three places at each of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will be available. Two places will also be available at the KOLON Korea Open in June.
Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland. The Fairmont St Andrews will replace The Renaissance Club as one of the four Final Qualifying venues.
The Open Qualifying Series (TOQS) will offer the following qualification places in The 148th Open:
The Open Qualifying Series |
Event |
No of Places |
Detail |
TOQS-Australia |
Emirates Australian Open 15-18 November 2018 The Lakes, Sydney |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-South Africa |
South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg 6-9 December 2018 Randpark, Johannesburg |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-Singapore |
SMBC Singapore Open 17-20 January Sentosa, Singapore |
4 |
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties |
TOQS-USA |
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 7-10 March Bay Hill, Orlando |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-Japan |
The Mizuno Open 30 May-2 June The Royal, Ibaraki |
4 |
4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties |
TOQS-Canada |
RBC Canadian Open 6-9 June Hamilton, Ancaster |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-Korea |
KOLON Korea Open TBC Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan |
2 |
2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties |
TOQS-Spain |
Andalucía Valderrama Masters 27-30 June Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-USA |
Rocket Mortgage Classic 27-30 June Detroit Golf Club, Michigan |
2 |
2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties |
TOQS-Final Qualifying |
2 July Fairmont St Andrews Notts (Hollinwell) Prince’s St Annes Old Links |
12 |
3 places to the leading three players at each venue. |
TOQS-Ireland |
Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 4-7 July Lahinch, Co. Clare |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-Scotland |
Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open 11-14 July The Renaissance Club, East Lothian |
3 |
3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
TOQS-USA |
John Deere Classic 11-14 July TPC Deere Run, Illinois |
1 |
One place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top five and ties |
46 |
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