Full Breakdown
R&A Launches Inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier for The Open at Royal Birkdale
7/8/2026, 1:27:28 PM
The Final 12-Man Shootout
On Monday 13 July, an 18-hole stroke-play event will begin at 7:30 a.m. BST on the Southport links at Royal Birkdale. Twelve players—ten professionals and two amateurs—will compete for the sole remaining berth in the 154th Open Championship, scheduled for 16–19 July at the same venue. The field is: Adri Arnaus, Wesley Bryan, Joe Dean, Sam Easterbrook (a), John Gough, Marcus Helligkilde, Angel Hidalgo, Charles Huntzinger, Matt Moloney (a), Aldrich Potgieter, Matti Schmid, Andrew Wilson.
Why a New Qualifier?
The R&A introduced the Last-Chance Qualifier in 2026 as part of a series of enhancements intended to “elevate the experience of those attending The Open.” It follows the existing Final Qualifying system. Players who missed an automatic Open spot by one stroke or lost a playoff at Final Qualifying become eligible under Exemption 4. When the number of eligible players exceeds the 12-player limit, the R&A orders selections by the strength-of-field ranking of each Final Qualifying venue and resolves ties by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) as of 29 June 2026.
Players in the Mix
- Wesley Bryan – half of the Bryan Bros YouTube channel, missed the West Lancashire Final Qualifying playoff by one shot, last qualified for The Open in 2017, and was suspended from the PGA Tour after appearing in a LIV Golf influencer event.
- Aldrich Potgieter – 2022 Amateur Champion, world No. 77, the highest-ranked player not already exempt, and a PGA Tour winner.
- Matti Schmid – tied fourth at the May PGA Championship, earned his spot via the OWGR.
- Adri Arnaus and Angel Hidalgo (Spain) – both seeking a return to The Open after narrowly missing out at Final Qualifying.
- Joe Dean, Andrew Wilson, John Gough, Marcus Helligkilde, Charles Huntzinger – professionals aiming for their Open debut.
- Sam Easterbrook (Purdue) – a Walker Cup candidate and one of two amateurs.
- Matt Moloney – runner-up at this year’s Amateur Championship, the second amateur.
Numbers and Rankings
The West Lancashire venue held the strongest field strength, allowing three players who finished a shot back to enter the qualifier. Wesley Bryan was ranked No. 1,028 in the OWGR on 29 June 2026, edging Giles Evans (No. 1,040) for the third-best ranking among that group. Aldrich Potgieter’s world No. 77 made him the top-ranked entrant not already exempt; Matti Schmid also qualified via the OWGR.
Official R&A Explanation
A R&A spokesperson clarified that Exemption 4 selects “players that finished one position behind the competitors who secured a place in The Open at Final Qualifying.” If the pool exceeds the field limit, “the order in which this exemption is taken will be determined by (i) a player will be taken from each FQ venue in strength-of-field order… (ii) in the event of a tied score at each FQ venue, the player with the highest OWGR ranking as published on Monday 29 June 2026 will be awarded the place.” The qualifier is described as a “dramatic qualification showdown” that allows spectators to follow the drama live.
Conflicting Rankings
Source 1 notes Bryan at OWGR 1,028, edging Evans, but later states that Evans has since passed Bryan in the world rankings. This creates a discrepancy about the current relative positions of the two players.
Implications for The Open
The winner of the Monday event will join the Open field at Royal Birkdale, potentially altering the composition of the major by adding a player who narrowly missed earlier qualification.
What Comes Next
The draw was announced on 7 July. Highlights of the qualifier will be broadcast on Sky Sports Golf later on Monday. The Open itself will open on Thursday 16 July, with live coverage beginning at 6:30 a.m. BST and extending through the final round on 19 July.
