Tag: British Open

R&A makes key changes to Open Championship exemption categories starting in 2024

The new exemption categories won’t open the door any wider for more LIV Golf players to compete in the Open.

The R&A has made a change to its exemption categories for future Open Championships starting with the 2024 tournament at Royal Troon, but it isn’t to include more LIV Golf players.

On Wednesday the governing body announced that past champions will only be exempt until the age of 55. The current age cap is 60. All golfers currently exempt as past champions will be grandfathered in and still be able to play the Open until 60.

In addition, a new exemption will be offered to players on the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and the Sunshine Tour to qualify through the International Federation Ranking list, where the top five players on the list will earn a spot in the Open. An exemption for the Africa Amateur Champion has also been added.

Solely for the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, July 18-21, Michael Hendry has been granted a medical exemption after he was unable to play in last year’s Open due to serious illness.

LIV players have been clamoring for a special exemption category even before the league withdrew its application for Official World Golf Ranking points. As it stands now, the following 13 players will tee it up at Royal Troon this summer:

Dean Burmester, Bryson DeChambeau. Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Adrian Meronk, Phil Mickelson, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, David Puig, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Henrik Stenson.

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LIV Golf’s David Puig punches ticket to 2024 Open Championship with Asian Tour win

Nine players have already qualified for the Open via the Open Qualifying Series.

David Puig is bound for Scotland this summer.

The 22-year-old Spaniard won the Asian Tour’s IRS Prima Malaysian Open at Mines Resort and Golf Club thanks to consecutive rounds of 62 on the weekend to earn not only his second Asian Tour victory in four months but also a place at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media], July 18-21.

The Malaysian Open was the first Open Qualifying Series event of 2024. The next is the PGA Tour’s 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational, March 7-10. Six players have already qualified via the series. Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dan Bradbury earned their spots late in 2023 at the Joburg Open, while Joaquin Niemann, Rikuya Hoshino and Adam Scott earned theirs at the ISPS Handa Australian Open.

“It feels great, weird feeling for sure. We almost missed the cut. I was kind of playing good, but I kind of messed up,” said Puig, who was flirting with the cutline after the second round. “We actually finished round two good, and the weekend was just insane. I mean 18 birdies, no bogeys, in 36 holes was unbelievable.”

“And getting that Open spot is super cool, I came here for that,” he added.

Runner-up Jeunghun Wang will also join Puig at the Open, same with Denwit Boriboonsub, who finished T-3 with John Catlin but won the tiebreaker thanks to his higher position in the Official World Golf Ranking. Puig and Boriboonsub will make their Open debuts, while Wang will make his third start after missed cuts in 2016 and 2017.

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Tiger Woods: 48 wild stats and facts for his 48th birthday

Celebrate Tiger’s birthday with some insane stats from his career.

Golf is a game that revolves around numbers. Lots of numbers.

There’s par and yardage, irons, woods and wedges, golf balls and holes, strokes and strokes gained. The list goes on. When it comes to impressive lists of numbers and stats related to golf, nobody’s compiled a better one over a career than Tiger Woods. Even with all his injuries, he still isn’t done.

In fact, he’s adding another number today: 48. As in, years old.

From his record PGA Tour earnings to his record-tying 82 Tour wins and 15 major championships, here are 48 facts and stats to celebrate Tiger’s 48th birthday.

Staff picks: Who will win their first major championship in 2024?

Don’t be surprised if a handful of rising stars command the spotlight in 2024.

Four of the five major champions on the women’s side in 2023 were first-time winners. As for the men? Two of four.

As the golf world moves on from 2023 and looks ahead to 2024, we got to thinking, who is most likely to add a major championship to their resume for the first time in the new year? Several writers on Golfweek‘s staff have made their picks, some surprising, some not so much.

Men’s 2024 major venues: Augusta National Golf Club (Masters), Valhalla Golf Club (PGA Championship), Pinehurst No. 2 (U.S. Open) and Royal Troon (Open Championship).

Women’s 2024 major venues: The Club at Carlton Woods (Chevron Championship), Lancaster Country Club (U.S. Women’s Open), Sahalee Country Club (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Evian Resort Golf Club (Amundi Evian Championship), The Old Course at St. Andrews (AIG Women’s Open).

Three players (including a LIV golfer) qualify for 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon

The Open Qualifying Series is off and running with major championship exemptions on the line.

Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dan Bradbury have all qualified for next year’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon via the Joburg Open, the first event in the Open Qualifying Series.

The series offers players from around the world the opportunity to qualify for one of the four men’s majors and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour.

Burmester, who now plays in the LIV Golf League and finished 14th last season, earned a three-shot win at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa, at 18 under and will play in his third Open next year. Fichardt last qualified for the Open in 2017 after winning the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. He finished runner-up this year at 15 under after a final-round 64. The defending champion Bradbury also shot 64 on Sunday to take the third qualifying spot at 13 under.

Next up in the series is the ISPS Handa Australian Open, Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at The Lakes and The Australian in Sydney. Here are the rest of the events included in the qualifying series and how many Open places are available at each.

2024 Open Qualifying Series events remaining

Event Date Exemptions available
ISPS Handa Australian Open Nov. 30-Dec. 3, 2023 Three places to leading players not already exempt
Arnold Palmer Invitational March 7-10, 2024 One place to leading player not already exempt
RBC Canadian Open May 30-June 2, 2024 Three places to leading players not already exempt
Memorial Tournament June 6-9, 2024 One place to leading player not already exempt
KLM Open June 20-23, 2024 Two places to leading player not already exempt
Regional qualifying June 24, 2024 None
Italian Open June 27-30, 2024 Two places to leading player not already exempt
Final qualifying July 2, 2024 Minimum of 16 places
John Deere Classic July 4-7, 2024 Two places to leading player not already exempt
Genesis Scottish Open July 11-14, 2024 Three places to leading players not already exempt

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What a major championship exemption for LIV Golf players would look like for 2024

It’s never too early to start thinking about the 2024 majors, right?

Major championship discussion has been all the rage since the Official World Golf Ranking rejected LIV Golf’s application for points.

Players like Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau have discussed a new exemption category for players who made the jump to the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

But what would a major championship exemption category for LIV players even look like? A LIV official said an exemption for the top 12 players on the points list at the end of the season would make sense in their eyes. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley already shot down the idea. Chief executive of the R&A Keith Pelly agreed. But let’s not let that get in the way of a fun exercise.

After all, it’s never too early to start thinking about the majors right? With the Masters a little more than 150 days away, here’s how exemption categories would pan out for LIV players at the 2024 majors.

Ivor Robson, longtime British Open starter, dead at 83

“As official starter at The Open for over 40 years, his voice was instantly recognizable and synonymous with the Championship.”

Ivor Robson, the longtime starter at the British Open known for his distinctive voice, has died at the age of 83.

From Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, from Arnold Palmer to Seve Ballesteros, from Tom Watson to Rory McIlroy, he sent them on their way to glory, introducing players in his familiar fashion, beginning with “Now on the tee,” followed by the name of the player. He also famously never took a bathroom break between the first tee time and the last.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of Ivor’s passing,” said Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A. “As official starter at The Open for over 40 years, his voice was instantly recognizable and synonymous with the Championship for players and millions of golf fans worldwide.

“He was popular and well respected among all golfers who played in The Open and I know that they will share in our sadness at this news. On behalf of all of us at The R&A, I would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to his wife of 61 years, Lesley, and the Robson family.”

It was in 2015 when he announced his retirement, working the British Open at St. Andrews for the final time, before making his final announcements when the curtain came down on the DP World Tour season in Dubai in November 2015.

“I feel you can’t go on forever and if you’re going to step off there’s no better place to do it than here. I’ve had some nice ones but this is special, St Andrews. It is just magnificent,” he said at the time.

“It has been a wonderful career. It’s been a great honor. The way I have been treated by players, officials, sponsors … thank you all very much.”

Ivor Robson, with Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler
Ivor Robson, with Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler at the first tee.

Robson also served for over 40 years as the DP World Tour’s official starter with his “on the tee” message delivered in his brogue at famous golf venues around the globe.

A resident of Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway, Robson was born in England in 1940 and began his remarkable career at the 1975 British Open at Carnoustie. He went on to earn the admiration of the best players in the world, sending players off from the first tee with his famous words and a hearty grin.

“To the professionals, it has been great fun being here with you,” he added in 2015. “We have had lots of banter and it has been wonderful. You are a credit to the professional game. And to the spectators, thank you for your wonderful support over the years.”

Looking back to his Open career, he added, “It is a great honor to be the official starter for the greatest championship in the world. I’m privileged and immensely proud. They were all very special.”

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Watch: British Open champ Brian Harman guzzles beer from Claret Jug at surprise airport celebration

“It’s so cool. It warms my heart seeing everyone here.”

Brian Harman received a hero’s welcome when he arrived home to McKinnon St. Simons Island Airport in Georgia on Friday.

Fellow major winner Davis Love III, PGA Tour pro and fellow Georgia alum Harris English and Harman’s swing coach, Justin Parsons, were among more than 50 friends and fans that surprised The Champion Golfer of the Year upon his arrival.

“It’s so cool. It warms my heart seeing everyone here,” Harman told PGA Tour.com. “My wife played it off pretty good. I was thinking we would just scoot home and not see anybody, so I’m thrilled everyone came out. It’s really touching.”

Harman, who won for the first time in more than six years on Sunday and collected his first major championship, stepped off the plane holding his youngest of three children in his left arm and the Claret Jug, the famed trophy that the winner of the British Open is awarded custody for one year, in his right.

Harman hung around and posed for pictures, signed autographs and drank a Coors Light from the Claret Jug.

“There’s booze in there, sorry,” Harman said with a grin in a video posted to social media by the PGA Tour.

Young fans settled to touch the trophy.

Harman flew back to the U.S. early Monday morning following a celebration the night before at Hickory’s Smokehouse, not far from where he won the British Open at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England. Harman met up with his wife and three kids, who watched his victory from her family’s home in the Syracuse, New York, area.

“The last three or four days have been really nice,” he said. “We’ve been secluded up there by the lake. But it’s nice to get back and see a bunch of familiar faces and get to celebrate with them.”

Harman has called St. Simons Island, part of a chain of barrier islands nicknamed the Golden Isles, for most of his career. Based on his arrival home, the party is just beginning for Harman’s career-defining moment in this picturesque corner of southern Georgia – halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville, Florida.

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Yasir Al-Rumayyan, R&A’s Martin Slumbers secretly met during 2023 British Open

R&A officials confirmed the meeting but would not provide comment on a private discussion.

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Brian Harman’s stellar performance to lift the Claret Jug and claim the 2023 Open Championship last week provided a break from the ongoing news surrounding the pending deal between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

However, during Sunday’s final round, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan and associate Amanda Staveley met with R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England. The news was first reported by the Telegraph and confirmed by Golfweek, though R&A officials would not provide comment on a private discussion.

Al-Rumayyan and Staveley were secretly brought to the property with the help of an R&A sponsor, but reports state the meeting was more “symbolic than substantive.”

Slumbers spoke about Saudi money and its place in golf last week ahead of the opening round of the final men’s major championship of the year, saying he was “very open” to talk to “various potential sponsors.”

“We have a number of large corporate partners that help us make this thing happen. I think the world has changed in the last year. It’s not just golf. You’re seeing it in (soccer). You’re seeing it in F1. You’re seeing it in cricket. I’m sure tennis won’t be that far behind,” said Slumbers. “The world of sport has changed dramatically in the last 12 months, and it is not feasible for the R&A or golf to just ignore what is a societal change on a global basis. We will be considering within all the parameters that we look at all the options that we have.’’

Newcastle United’s chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan (L) and minority owner Amanda Staveley (C) and Manchester United co-chairman Avram Glazer (R) before a match at Wembley Stadium on February 26, 2023. (Photo by Glyn Kirk/AFP)

Due to the PIF being its primary and longtime sole investor, LIV Golf was criticized as just another way for Saudi Arabia to “sportswash” its controversial human rights record, same with the PIF’s purchase of Premier League team Newcastle United, of which Al-Rumayyan is the chairman and Staveley is a co-investor.

British Open champ Brian Harman can’t wait to mow grass on his new tractor

Brian Harman loves the outdoors and not just for playing golf.

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Brian Harman loves the outdoors and not just for playing golf. Long known as an avid hunter, Harman has some land that requires tending, and he’s got just the machine for the job.

“I had a nice week a couple weeks ago and I bought a new tractor for my hunting place, so I’ll get home and I’ll be on the tractor mowing grass in the next few weeks, so I’m excited about that,” Harman said Sunday in the media center with Claret Jug by his side, basking in the glow of his victory at the 2023 Open Championship.

The assembled media at Royal Liverpool peppered Harman with questions all week about hunting, one of his main off-course pursuits, but Sunday’s media session also included talk of his big new piece of equipment.

“So that’s going to be the reward, you’re going ride your tractor?,” one scribe asked.

“Yeah. Just put my phone away and go get on the tractor,” he said.

“Could you tell us a little bit more about your tractor, please?”

“I haven’t seen it yet,” Harman said. “It’s on order. It’s a 105 horse Kubota tractor and it’s going to be a pretty one.”

“What color?

“Orange.”

“How many acres will you mow?”

“Let’s see, we’ve got about 25 acres of food plots that need, and, gosh, I don’t know how many miles of roads, but I’d call it probably 40 acres total that needs to get mowed.”

“I’ve never known an Open Champion to celebrate by mowing grass on a tractor,” said a reporter.

“I’ve got a lot of layers, man. I’m like an onion.”

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