Qualification tracker

Qualification for The 154th Open can be earned through a number of different pathways open to golfers across the globe.

The world’s best players will compete for the famous Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale, and while some have already done enough to gain an exemption many others will have to earn their place between now and the first tee shot on 16 July 2026.

The Open Qualifying Series (OQS) will begin in October while a series of exemption categories have also been confirmed ahead of the Championship's return to Southport.

A full schedule of qualification pathways, along with a list of golfers already exempt, can be found below. This page will be updated as players qualify throughout the year.

Already exempt

• The Open Champions aged 60 or under on 19 July 2026 (for all Champions up to and including 2023).

• The Open Champions aged 55 or under on 19 July 2026 (for all Champions from 2024).

• The Open Champions for 2015-2025.

• First 10 players and anyone tying for 10th place at The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in 2025.

• The Senior Open champion for 2025.

• The US Amateur champion for 2025*.

• First 30 players from the Final 2025 FedExCup Points List.

• The Mark H McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®)) winner for 2025*.

• The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2023-2025.

• The Masters Tournament champions for 2022-2025.

• The PGA champions for 2022-2025.

• The US Open champions for 2022-2025.

• THE PLAYERS champions for 2024-2025.

Exempt players

A - F

Ludvig Aberg; Akshay Bhatia; Keegan Bradley; Jacob Bridgeman; Sam Burns; Patrick Cantlay; Stewart Cink; Wyndham Clark; Darren Clarke; Corey Conners; Ben Curtis; John Daly; Bryson DeChambeau; David Duval; Ernie Els; Harris English; Matt Fitzpatrick; Tommy Fleetwood; Ryan Fox.

G - L

Chris Gotterup; Ben Griffin; Harry Hall; Todd Hamilton; Brian Harman; Padraig Harrington; Russell Henley; Billy Horschel; Viktor Hovland; Mason Howell (a); Sungjae Im; Zach Johnson; Brooks Koepka; Jackson Koivun (a); Paul Lawrie; Justin Leonard; Haotong Li; Shane Lowry.

M - R

Robert MacIntyre; Hideki Matsuyama; Rory McIlroy; Maverick McNealy; Phil Mickelson; Francesco Molinari; Collin Morikawa; Alex Noren; Andrew Novak; Louis Oosthuizen; Jon Rahm; Justin Rose.

S - Z

Xander Schauffele; Scottie Scheffler; Cameron Smith; JJ Spaun; Jordan Spieth; Henrik Stenson; Sepp Straka; Nick Taylor; Justin Thomas; Tiger Woods; Cameron Young.

This page is up to date as of 22 September and will be updated as further exemptions are finalised.

Qualification pathways

October, November, December

• OQS Spain - Open de España presented by Madrid (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 9 – 12 October.

• OQS Japan - Japan Open Golf Championship (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 16 – 19 October.

• Asia-Pacific Amateur champion* (one place) - 26 October.

• OQS Hong Kong - Link Hong Kong Open (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 30 October – 2 November.

• Top 25 in the Final Race to Dubai Rankings – 16 November.

• OQS Australia - Australian Open (three places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – 4 – 7 December.

January, February, March

• Latin America Amateur champion* (one place) – 18 January.

• Africa Amateur champion* (one place) – 7 February.

• OQS New Zealand - 105th New Zealand Open (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 26 February – 1 March.

• OQS South Africa - Investec South African Open Championship (three places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – 26 February – 1 March.

• OQS Argentina - 119 Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 26 February – 1 March.

• OQS USA - Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 5 -8 March.

• The PLAYERS champion for 2026 (one place) – 15 March.

April and May

• The Masters Champion for 2026 (one place) – 12 April.

• Asian Tour Event TBC (two places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – date TBC.

• PGA Champion for 2026 (one place) – 17 May.

• Top 5 from the Federation Ranking List – 24 May.

• Top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking – 24 May.

• OQS Korea – KOLON Korea Open (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – May or June.

• OQS Japan – Mizuno Open (three places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – 28 – 31 May.

June and July

• OQS USA - the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 4 – 7 June.

• OQS Canada - RBC Canadian Open (three places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – 11 – 14 June.

• The Amateur champion for 2026* (one place) – 20 June.

• US Open champion for 2026 (one place) – 21 June.

• Regional Qualifying (places in Final Qualifying available) – 22 June.

• European Amateur champion for 2026* (one place) – 27 June.

• The Open Amateur Series winner for 2026* (one place) – 27 June.

• OQS Italy - Open d’Italia (one place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut) – 25 – 28 June.

• Leading player in the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Season Rankings, on completion of LIV Golf Louisiana (one place) – 28 June.

• Top 5 in the FedExCup points list (top 5, not already exempt within the top 20, of the FedExCup points list on completion of the Travelers Championship) – 28 June.

• Final Qualifying (places TBC) – 30 June.

• Top 5 in the Race to Dubai Rankings (top 5, not already exempt, within the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings on completion of the BMW International Open) – 5 July.

• OQS Scotland - Genesis Scottish Open (three places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut) – 9 – 12 July.

• Last-Chance Qualifier (one place) – 13 July.

*The winner must maintain their amateur status to take up the exemption.