The R&A confirmed on 3 June that the draws for Regional Qualifying for The 154th Open are now available on TheOpen.com, with Chart Hills added as a new venue after more than 2,100 golfers entered the first stage of qualifying for Royal Birkdale.
The addition of Chart Hills brings the total number of Regional Qualifying venues to 16 across Great Britain and Ireland. The R&A said the expansion was necessary “due to the high number of entries received.”
Regional Qualifying, 22 June
All 16 events will be played on Monday 22 June 2026. The full list of venues is:
- Bearwood Lakes
- Caldy
- Chart Hills
- Craigielaw
- Enville
- Ferndown
- Fulford
- Gog Magog
- Hesketh
- Kilmarnock (Barassie)
- Lindrick
- Minchinhampton
- Moor Park
- North Hants
- Rochester & Cobham Park
- The Island
Successful golfers from Regional Qualifying advance to Final Qualifying, which takes place on Tuesday 30 June at four courses: Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire.
The Road to Royal Birkdale
Regional and Final Qualifying are open to professional and amateur golfers worldwide who meet The R&A’s entry criteria. They form part of a broader qualification structure that also includes The Open Qualifying Series, a network of events on tours across every continent offering places to non-exempt players.
The 154th Open will be played at Royal Birkdale from 12–19 July 2026, with championship rounds running Thursday 16 July through Sunday 19 July.
For golfers who fall short in Regional and Final Qualifying, one last route remains. A Last-Chance Qualifier will be held at Royal Birkdale itself on Monday 13 July, offering a single place in the field during championship week.
