With the Open Championship just a few weeks away, it’s time for those that aren’t already exempt into the season’s third major to try and lockup spots. On Sunday, seven pros worldwide locked up spots to tee it up at Royal Birkdale as part of the Open Qualifying Series.
On the European Tour, American Peter Uihlein locked up a spot with his runner up finish at he HNA French Open, along with Sweden’s Alexander Bjork and France’s Mike Lorenzo-Vera.
While Uihlein narrowly missed out on the win in France, finishing one shot behind Tommy Fleetwood, he earned his third trip to The Open. He tied for 48th at Royal St. George’s in 2011 and missed the cut at Royal Liverpool in 2014. Meanwhile, Bjork and Lorenzo-Vera will be making their first-ever start in a major championship.
Over on the PGA Tour, the Quicken Loans National might have gone to a playoff on Sunday, but both participants clinched spots into The Open.
Kyle Stanley, Charles Howell III, Martin Laird, and Sung Kang all earned spots based on their finishes on Sunday.
Stanley, who defeated Howell III on the first playoff hole will be making his first appearance at the season’s third major since missing the cut at Muirfield in 2013. For CH III, his consolation prize is his first Open appearance since a T-64 finish at Royal Lytham in 2012. Laird will be making his sixth Open appearance, while Kang will be making his Open debut.
Seven more spots are up for grabs next week, with three coming from the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and four more coming from The Greenbrier Classic.
The 146th Open will be held July 20-23 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
