EXEMPTIONS

The following players have secured exemptions for The 154th Open, taking place at Royal Birkdale from 12-19 July 2026.

Exemption categories are reviewed each year to ensure that pathways are available for golfers around the world, and this page will be updated as players gain exemptions throughout the year.

A full list of exemption categories can be found below.

Exempt Players

Aberg, Ludvig - 12
Bhatia, Akshay - 12
Bradley, Keegan - 12
Bridgeman, Jacob - 12
Burns, Sam - 12
Cantlay, Patrick - 12
Cink, Stewart - 1
Clark, Wyndham - 4, 11
Clarke, Darren - 1
Conners, Corey - 4, 12
Curtis, Ben - 1
Daly, John - 1
DeChambeau, Bryson - 4, 11
Duval, David - 1
Els, Ernie - 1
English, Harris - 4, 12
Fitzpatrick, Matt - 4, 11
Fleetwood, Tommy - 12
Fox, Ryan - 7
Gotterup, Chris - 4, 12
Griffin, Ben - 12
Hall, Harry - 12
Hamilton, Todd - 1
Harman, Brian - 1, 3, 4, 12
Harrington, Padraig - 1, 17
Henley, Russell - 4, 12
Horschel, Billy - 7
Hovland, Viktor - 12
Howell, Mason (a) - 18
Im, Sungjae - 12
Johnson, Zach - 1, 3
Koepka, Brooks - 10
Koivun, Jackson (a) - 19
Lawrie, Paul - 1
Leonard, Justin - 1
Li, Haotong - 4
Lowry, Shane - 1, 3, 12
MacIntyre, Robert - 4, 12
Matsuyama, Hideki - 12
McIlroy, Rory - 1, 4, 9, 12, 13
McNealy, Maverick - 12
Mickelson, Phil - 1
Molinari, Francesco - 1, 3
Morikawa, Collin - 1, 3, 12
Noren, Alex - 7
Novak, Andrew - 12
Oosthuizen, Louis - 1
Rahm, Jon - 9
Rose, Justin - 12
Schauffele, Xander - 2, 3, 4, 10
Scheffler, Scottie - 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13
Smith, Cameron - 1, 3
Spaun, JJ - 11, 12
Spieth, Jordan - 1, 3
Stenson, Henrik - 1, 3
Straka, Sepp - 12
Taylor, Nick - 12
Thomas, Justin - 10, 12
Woods, Tiger - 1
Young, Cameron - 12

Exemption Categories

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

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

3. The Open Champions for 2015-2025.

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

5. The first 50 players on the OWGR for Week 21, 2026. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player(s).

6. First 25 players in the Final Race to Dubai Rankings for 2025.

7. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2023-2025.

8. First 5 DP World Tour members and any DP World Tour members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings on completion of the 2026 BMW International Open. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the players.

9. The Masters Tournament Champions for 2022-2026.

10. The PGA Champions for 2022-2026.

11. The US Open Champions for 2022-2026. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the 2026 Champion.

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

13. THE PLAYERS Champions for 2024-2026.

14. First 5 PGA TOUR members and any PGA TOUR members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the PGA TOUR FedExCup Points List for 2026 on completion of the 2026 Travelers Championship. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the players.

15. The first player and anyone tying for that place, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Season Standings on completion of LIV Golf Louisiana. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player.

16. The first 5 players on the 2026 Federation Ranking List as of OWGR Week 21, 2026. Places 1-4 on this List may be determined before The Open closing date, as each season-ending Included Order of Merit is published. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player(s).

17. The Senior Open Champion for 2025.

18. The US Amateur Champion for 2025.

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

20. The Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion 2025.

21. The Latin America Amateur Champion 2026.

22. The Africa Amateur Champion 2026.

23. The Amateur Champion for 2026. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player(s).

24. The European Amateur Champion for 2026. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player(s).

25. The Open Amateur Series winner 2026. Blank entry will be made on behalf of the player(s).