Global Pathways Confirmed as The Open Qualifying Series Returns for Royal Birkdale

The R&A has rolled out the red carpet—or more accurately, 7,000 yards of emerald turf—for The Open Qualifying Series, confirming the schedule of events and exemption categories for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

Each year, this global roadshow gives professionals and amateurs alike a chance to scrap their way into golf’s oldest championship.

From North America to New Zealand, and a few airports in between, players will now have 15 golden tickets to chase across 13 countries. The action begins in October, and qualifying places will be up for grabs on the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, KPGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour, and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, summed up the scale of it all: “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and its global nature is reflected in the number of outstanding opportunities we offer to golfers to qualify for the Championship through our exemptions and professional tour events held internationally each year.

“The Open Qualifying Series generates great excitement and intrigue each year as players compete to earn a coveted place in the Championship and so we look forward to seeing what stories emerge in the months ahead and the field coming together as we get closer to staging another memorable Open at Royal Birkdale next July.”

New Stops, Old Legends

Freshly inked on the 2025 schedule are the Open de España presented by Madrid, the Japan Open, and the Link Hong Kong Open. These additions follow last month’s curious but historic handshake between The R&A and Augusta National Golf Club, aligning parts of the qualification criteria for both The Open and the Masters. In other words: play well, and you might get two invites for the price of one.

Across the Pond

Stateside fans won’t miss out. Spots at Royal Birkdale will be on the line at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament, and the RBC Canadian Open. South America gets its swing too, with the Visa Argentina Open offering one lucky soul a ticket to England.

Europe, Asia, and Beyond

In Europe, the Genesis Scottish Open and Open d’Italia join the Open de España on the list of events that could send a player packing for Birkdale. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific has gone full buffet: the Australian Open, the 105th New Zealand Open, the Mizuno Open, the KOLON Korea Open, and the new Link Hong Kong Open all carry qualifying slots. The Asian Tour has even left one mystery date hanging, to be revealed later this year.

Add in the Investec South African Open Championship and you’ve got golf’s version of the Eurovision Song Contest—only with fewer sequins and much tougher bunkers.

One More Bite at the Cherry

For those who like living dangerously, the R&A has introduced a new Last-Chance Qualifier. On Monday, 13 July, a dozen hopefuls will tee it up at Royal Birkdale itself, with just one final place in The Open on the line. That’s golf’s equivalent of musical chairs, only with a claret jug waiting at the other end.

Regional and Final Qualifying events will still be played across Great Britain and Ireland in June, open to any pro or amateur with the nerve—and handicap—to try their luck.

So, the map is set. The exemptions are updated. And The Open Qualifying Series once again promises a global chase for golf’s most famous trophy.

The only certainty? Somewhere out there, someone’s lifelong dream is about to be decided by a six-foot putt that refuses to drop.