The Open de España presented by Madrid will provide the first opportunity for players to qualify for next year’s Open Championship via The Open Qualifying Series.
The leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid will earn their place in the final Major Championship of the season at Royal Birkdale next summer.
This provides an additional carrot for two of the three Irish players in the field this week, with Conor Purcell and Tom McKibbin hoping to join Shane Lowry who is already exempt as the 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year.
Spain’s national open, the Japan Open and the Link Hong Kong Open were added to the Open Qualifying Series schedule following the joint announcement made last month by The R&A and Augusta National Golf Club to align aspects of the qualification criteria for The Open and the Masters Tournament.
Beginning with this week’s event, players will be able to qualify for golf’s oldest Major through 15 events in 13 countries being played on the PGA TOUR, Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour, KPGA Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Sunshine Tour and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
As well as the Open de España presented by Madrid, the Australian Open, Investec South African Open Championship, Open d’Italia and Genesis Scottish Open – all events on the 2026 Race to Dubai schedule will also offer places for golfers aiming to book their place at Royal Birkdale.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: “The Open is one of the world’s great sporting events and its global nature is reflected in the number of outstanding opportunities we offer to golfers to qualify for the Championship through our exemptions and professional tour events held internationally each year.
“The Open Qualifying Series generates great excitement and intrigue each year as players compete to earn a coveted place in the Championship and so we look forward to seeing what stories emerge in the months ahead and the field coming together as we get closer to staging another memorable Open at Royal Birkdale next July.”
In North America, places will be available via the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the RBC Canadian Open, while the Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro in South America will also offer a spot.
The 105th New Zealand Open, the Mizuno Open, the KOLON Korea Open and an additional event to be confirmed later this year by the Asian Tour will join the Australian Open, Japan Open and the Link Hong Kong Open as events being held in Asia-Pacific which offer qualifying places in The Open
Regional and Final Qualifying events, which are open to professional and amateur golfers worldwide who meet the entry criteria, will take place at venues around Great Britain and Ireland in June ahead of The Open.
A new Last-Chance Qualifier will be played at Royal Birkdale on Monday, 13 July. The field of 12 players competing for the final place in the championship will be determined using an approach which complements the existing qualification criteria for The Open.
The 154th Open will be played at Royal Birkdale from July 16-19 2026.
The Open Qualifying Series will offer the following qualification places in The 154th Open:
Date
Tour
Event
Qualifying Places
9-12 October 2025
DP World Tour
Open de España presented by Madrid
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
16-19 October 2025
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open Golf Championship
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
30 October-2 November 2025
Asian Tour
Link Hong Kong Open
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
4-7 December 2025
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia / DP World Tour
Australian Open
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
26 February-1 March
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia / Asian Tour
105th New Zealand Open
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
26 February-1 March
Sunshine Tour / DP World Tour
Investec South African Open Championship
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
26 February-1 March
Korn Ferry Tour
119 Visa Argentina Open presented by Macro
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
5-8 March
PGA TOUR
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
TBC
Asian Tour
TBC
2 places to the leading two players, not already exempt, who make the cut
TBC
KPGA Tour / Asian Tour
KOLON Korea Open
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
28-31 May
Japan Golf Tour
Mizuno Open
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
4-7 June
PGA TOUR
the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
11-14 June
PGA TOUR
RBC Canadian Open
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
25-28 June
DP World Tour
Open d’Italia
1 place to the leading player, not already exempt, who makes the cut
9-12 July
DP World Tour / PGA Tour
Genesis Scottish Open
3 places to the leading three players, not already exempt, who make the cut
