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Open Qualifying Series features Valderrama for first time in 2019
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Open Qualifying Series features Valderrama for first time in 2019

The road to The 148th Open at Royal Portrush will for the first time in 2019 feature the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, while the South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg, the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investment Scottish Open all return to the Qualifying Series.

Francesco Molinari - with his caddie on the sixth hole during the final round of the 147th Open Championship

A total of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the European Tour, the US PGA TOUR, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

Three places at each of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters - which replaces the Open de France - the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open will be available, while the co-sanctioned South African Open also provides an opportunity for European Tour Members..

Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events, meanwhile, will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland. The Fairmont St Andrews will replace The Renaissance Club as one of the four Final Qualifying venues.

The Emirates Australian Open will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal Portrush, which was the host venue of the 2012 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, next year. The leading three players, who finish in the top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The Open.

Three new events on the US PGA TOUR will also feature in the Series for the first time: the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the RBC Canadian Open and the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, “The race to qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush has well and truly begun and we are eagerly anticipating an exciting series of events as golfers around the world aim to book their place at the Championship.

“We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 70 years and it will undoubtedly act as an extra incentive for those players who are hopeful of teeing it up at the famous Dunluce links in July.”

The South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg will replace the Joburg Open following a merger of the two events. It will be played at Randpark, Johannesburg from 6-9 December this year when three qualifying places will be on offer.

Four places in The Open will be available at both the SMBC Singapore Open, which is being played at Sentosa Golf Club, and The Mizuno Open taking place at The Royal Golf Club in Japan.

On the PGA TOUR, the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and RBC Canadian Open will each have three qualifying places while two golfers will qualify from the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The last qualifying place will be confirmed at the John Deere Classic on the eve of The 148th Open.

Two places will also be available at the KOLON Korea Open in June.

 

The Open Qualifying Series (TOQS) will offer the following qualification places in The 148th Open:

The Open Qualifying Series

Event

No of Places

Detail

TOQS-Australia

Emirates Australian Open

15-18 November 2018

The Lakes, Sydney

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-South Africa

South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg

6-9 December 2018

Randpark, Johannesburg

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-Singapore

SMBC Singapore Open

17-20 January

Sentosa, Singapore

4

4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties

TOQS-USA

Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

7-10 March

Bay Hill, Orlando

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-Japan

The Mizuno Open

30 May-2 June

The Royal, Ibaraki

4

4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties

TOQS-Canada

RBC Canadian Open

6-9 June

Hamilton, Ancaster

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-Korea

KOLON Korea Open

TBC

Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan

2

2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties

TOQS-Spain

Andalucía Valderrama Masters

27-30 June

Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-USA

Rocket Mortgage Classic

27-30 June

Detroit Golf Club, Michigan

2

2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties

TOQS-Final Qualifying

2 July

Fairmont St Andrews

Notts (Hollinwell)

Prince’s

St Annes Old Links

12

3 places to the leading three players at each venue.

TOQS-Ireland

Dubai Duty Free Irish Open

4-7 July

Lahinch, Co. Clare

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-Scotland

Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open

11-14 July

The Renaissance Club, East Lothian

3

3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties

TOQS-USA

John Deere Classic

11-14 July

TPC Deere Run, Illinois

1

One place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top five and ties

46

 

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