Several LIV golfers are aiming to boost their chances of qualifying for this year’s Open Championship by competing in various tour events that offer qualifying spots for the game’s oldest major.
While the R&A recently confirmed that LIV players can qualify for Royal Portrush through the league’s individual standings, there is only one place on offer for LIV golfers in the top five on the LIV rankings not already exempt and some golfers are not relying solely on that opportunity and have committed to events within the Open Qualifying Series.
Over the next five months, the race will unfold across 15 events in 11 countries, and the first of these opportunities comes at the New Zealand Open where Ben Campbell and Lucas Herbert have added their names to the field.
Sergio Garcia, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and Branden Grace are also hoping to play their way in, with Garcia and Reed entered in the International Series Macau, while Schwartzel and Grace will play in the South African Open in their home country. Each of these events will offer Open Championship places to the top three non-exempt finishers.
Rahul Singh, head of the International Series, commented on the significance of the event in Macau: “The presence of globally recognized players, along with proven winners from The International Series and Asian Tour, adds incredible depth to the competition, making this a must-watch event. With three Open spots on the line, it promises to be an electrifying week of world-class golf.”
Schwartzel, who won The Masters in 2011, expressed his excitement about the South African Open, saying, “Winning this tournament would be amazing. It’s the second-oldest national Open in golf. As a South African, it would be a privilege to add it to my achievements. Every golfer dreams of winning their national Open, and it would mean a lot to me.”
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