Across four Final Qualifying events that were held on 1st July, five of the remaining 20 places for this years Open Championship were claimed at each event.
Each Final Qualifying featured a starting field of 288 competing at 36-hole events held at Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire.
So who achieved their place on the start sheet at golf’s original major? Thanks to the R&A, we have the results and reactions here –
Final Qualifier Burnham and Berrow Championship Link Course, Somerset, South West England
| Qualifiers | Total (to par) |
| Justin Walters | -9 |
| Jacob Skov-Olesen | -8 |
| Harry Hall | -8 |
| Frazer Jones (a) | -7 |
| OJ Farrell | -6 |
Justin Walters will make his first appearance in The Open since 2014. The South African, who lost his DP World Tour card in 2023, finished in first place at Burnham & Berrow with a nine-under-par total. Walters, who was visibly emotional afterwards, carded two rounds of 65 and 68 to secure his place in the field at Royal Portrush.
The 2024 Amateur Champion Jacob Skov-Olesen secured a swift return to The Open after finishing tied for second on eight-under-par to book his place in golf’s original championship once again.
Finishing alongside Skov-Olesen, Harry Hall maintained the fine form that has marked him out on the PGA Tour this season, posting a pair of composed 67s to seal his debut Open appearance. The Cornwall native delighted spectators with three consecutive birdies early in his second round to book his place at Royal Portrush.
Amateur Fraser Jones produced a remarkable late surge to claim fourth place at seven-under-par. With his father on the bag, the 19-year-old thrilled the hardy spectators who stayed until dusk, playing the closing holes in five-under-par to make his Open dreams come true.
The final qualifying spot went to OJ Farrell, whose six-under-par total from the early finishers proved enough to secure the Englishman a maiden appearance in a major championship.
Here are the reactions of some who have got their Open player lanyard at Burnham and Berrow:
Justin Walters
“It hasn’t quite sunk in. I have the Royal Liverpool flag framed in my bedroom and I stared at it for a long time two days ago. I just said to myself ‘it would be really nice to play again’ – and so here we are. I’m very happy.
“I drove the ball really well today, and I haven’t been driving it well for a while. I made the driver change to a mini driver and it really freed me up. So, I was able to attack the pins a little bit more than I have been – and I managed to knock in a couple of putts. Anytime you drive it good and putt it good, you’re going to do something good. And today was great!
“I’m 45 now and I was worried that I’m running out of opportunities to play on the biggest of stages. So it really means a lot to me to get it done today. Dean Burmester is one of my best mates so it’s really good news that he’s qualified too. I really look forward to hanging out with him at Royal Portrush.”
Jacob Skov-Olesen
“I’m happy to be back. Once you get the taste for it like I did last year you want to play in The Open again. I had a really fun week at Royal Troon.
“Last year I didn’t putt very well but I’m putting a lot better this year. If I keep going through the same motions I think it will be a good week. I’ve never played Royal Portrush, I honestly don’t know the course at all, I have no idea. But I’ve heard a lot of good things so I’m excited to see what it holds.”
Harry Hall
“I had a really hot start this morning and was six-under on the front nine. I then didn’t have a great stretch of holes but I was still right in it, and I kept a great attitude and got the job done.
“It means a lot. This is what I’ve want to do for a very long time, I want to get a Green Jacket and a Claret Jug – and you’ve got to be in it to win it. Anyone that came from Cornwall, I’ll buy them a drink now.”
Visit TheOpen.com for full results from Burnham & Berrow.
Final Qualifier Dundonald Championship Link Course, Ayrshire, Scotland
| Qualifiers | Total (to par) |
| Lee Westwood | -7 |
| David Young | -6 |
| Angel Hidalgo | -6 |
| Jesper Sandborg | -5 |
| Connor Graham (a)* | -4 |
*Connor Graham defeated Paul O’Hara on the first play-off hole.
Former world number one Lee Westwood was the leading qualifier at Dundonald Links to secure his 28th appearance in The Open at Royal Portrush. The 52-year-old Englishman was at two-under-par after his morning round and, starting his second round on the 10th, moved up a gear after the turn with four birdies in six holes from the 2nd (his 11th) to finish on a seven-under-par total of 137.
Playing partners Angel Hidalgo and Daniel Young finished one shot further back to secure their places in the Championship. Hidalgo, who won his first event on the DP World Tour at the Acciona Open De Espana last year, came through Final Qualifying at Dundonald for the second consecutive year while Young bounced back from the disappointment of missing out last year to follow him and make his Open debut at Portrush.
Sweden’s Jesper Sandborg will make his major championship debut at The Open after birdieing the last (the 9th for him) to finish on five-under-par.
Walker Cup player Connor Graham finished on four-under-par and had an agonising wait to learn whether it would be enough to qualify before compatriot Paul O’Hara finished on the same mark. The former R&A Junior Open champion showed his poise to win the first extra-hole by nervelessly rolling in an eight foot birdie putt to secure his Open berth.
Reactions of some of the five who have assured their place at Royal Portrush:
Lee Westwood
“The first time I played in The Open was in 1995 when I qualified at Leven and I thought it would be great to come back here and try to qualify for another one at Royal Portrush. It’s a fantastic golf course and I played well there the last time, I finished fourth in 2019, so that was another reason to come and play. The Open Championship is the greatest tournament in the golfing calendar.”
Connor Graham
“It was a long day but I’m delighted. It feels great to secure a spot in The Open for sure. I played a lot of good golf in there which helped. It’s a pretty special feeling to be able to come here and qualify. Playing in The Open has been a dream of mine for a long time and being able to go there and play this year will be pretty cool.”
Visit TheOpen.com for full results from Dundonald.
Final Qualifier Royal Cinque Ports Championship Link Course, Kent, Southern England
| Qualifiers | Total (to par) |
| Dean Burmester | -10 |
| Nathan Kimsey | -6 |
| Curtis Knipes | -6 |
| Sebastian Cave (a) | -5 |
| John Axelsen | -4 |
South Africa’s Dean Burmester claimed the first qualifying place at Royal Cinque Ports with a 70 in the morning followed by a course record equalling 64 in the afternoon. With a ten-under-par total of 134, Burmester will compete in The Open for a fourth time.
Englishmen Nathan Kimsey and Curtis Knipes finished in a tie for second on six-under-par. While Kimsey will make his major championship debut this month, Knipes returns to Royal Portrush for a second time after he qualified for The 148th Open in 2019 and was the youngest player in the field.
English amateur Sebastian Cave earned his place in The Open thanks to rounds of 67 and 72 while John Axelsen of Denmark finished a shot further back on four-under-par to claim the final qualifying place.
Notable players who missed out on qualifying included 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and Spain’s David Puig, who set the Royal Cinque Ports course record at 64 in the morning round.
Reactions from the victor at Royal Cinque Ports on their achievement:
Dean Burmester
“That’s one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played. It was just flawless from the get-go this afternoon.
“Basically, from the 1st hole it looked like every putt was going to go in and that’s pretty much what happened for the next 17 holes.
“I’m super chuffed with the way it’s turned out. It was a goal of mine to get to Portrush. Now I’ve got to find some accommodation!”
Visit TheOpen.com for full results from Royal Cinque Ports.
Final Qualifier West Lancashire Championship Link Course, Liverpool, Northern England
| Qualifiers | Total (to par) |
| Lucas Herbert | -8 |
| Sampson Zheng | -7 |
| George Bloor | -6 |
| Oliver Lindell* | -5 |
| Richard Teder (a)* | -5 |
*Oliver Lindell qualified at the second hole of a play-off with a birdie three. Richard Teder qualified at the third hole with an eagle two.
Lucas Herbert led the qualifiers at West Lancashire and finally sealed a place in The Open after narrowly missing out on opportunities at the Emirates Australian Open, the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport and the International Series Macau earlier this season.
Despite a dropped shot at the last, his eight-under-par total of 136 was enough for the Australian to clinch first spot ahead of Sampson Zheng, the runner-up in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne, who finished one shot further back on seven-under-par.
George Bloor delighted watching friends and family to clinch the third spot on six-under-par 138 to qualify for Royal Portrush where he will make his debut in The Open. A crucial birdie on the 16th of the second round ensured that the Englishman moved ahead of the chasing pack and as he parred out the final two holes, the emotions began to sink in as a childhood dream was realised.
A four-man play-off between Richard Teder, Oliver Lindell, Ronan Mullarney and Sam Bairstow determined the final two places.
Lindell was the first player to book his place at Royal Portrush with a birdie three on the second play-off hole, before rapturous scenes greeted Teder’s hole-out for eagle two on the next hole as the Estonian amateur becomes the first player from his country to qualify for The Open.
Reactions from some of those who’ll be packing their clubs ready for their opening game at The Open which starts on 13th July:
Lucas Herbert
“I’m super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in The Open.
“For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It’s really cool be playing in another one and joining my [Ripper GC] team-mates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there.
“I’ve made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I’ve finally got there. I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn’t finish it off so it’s definitely tested my patience. I’m glad it’s held out in the end.”
Richard Teder
“It doesn’t feel real to have qualified for The Open. It feels like a dream.
“I knew the putt on 18 to make the play-off was so important. It’s not over until it’s over, as they say. I’m glad I made the putt. I couldn’t believe the shot went in during the play-off – it just disappeared. It’s an unbelievable feeling.
“Everyone dreams of playing in a major. I didn’t think I would ever get to play in a major, but here I am!”
George Bloor
“It feels great to have qualified for The Open but it still hasn’t sunk in. I made a fifteen foot putt for birdie on 16 and that’s when I thought it could be my day. I followed it up with a great tee shot on the par-3 and yeah, it just felt that it could happen. I was so pleased.
“I’m just hugely excited to tee it up at Royal Portrush. It’s a childhood dream to play in The Open. When it sinks in finally, I’ll be counting down the days. I’ve had super support today and I’m pretty sure I’ll see family and friends over there.”
Visit TheOpen.com for full results from West Lancashire.
The 153rd Open will be played at Royal Portrush from 13-20 July 2025, when players from all over the world test their skills against a Championship Links Course and other top-tier players in pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy.
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