Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Chief Championships Officer at The R&A, “The Last-Chance Qualifier will provide fans with the opportunity to watch high quality, competitive golf which will generate drama and intrigue as players compete to earn the final place in the Championship. It is an exciting addition to The Open and fans still have time to secure tickets to attend the Last-Chance Qualifier via the official website.
“We have also developed eligibility criteria for the Last-Chance Qualifier which stays true to the traditions of The Open and our qualification process. Every golfer who tees it up at Royal Birkdale will have earned the right to do so and we look forward to seeing which player emerges from the field in the Last-Chance Qualifier to seal their place in the Championship.”
Fans will also be able to enjoy a special celebration of golf when the inaugural Heroes Classic takes place as a short-format team challenge starting on the 1st hole of Royal Birkdale on the afternoon of Tuesday 14 July.
Teams will be made up of a select number of players in the field for The Open and invited guests, who continue to inspire people of all ages and background worldwide to play golf and reflect the values and traditions that make the sport so popular.
The R&A once again experienced huge demand from fans in the ticket ballot for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale meaning that almost all tickets across the week are sold out.
Increased capacity for next year’s Championship has resulted in a limited number of tickets being available to attend the Last-Chance Qualifier and Heroes Classic, while fans can still enhance their experience of attending Monday to Sunday of Championship week through “Ticket Plus” – an upgrade that includes general admission plus access to a private area featuring exclusive food and drinks, indoor/outdoor seating, big screens, private restrooms, a £25 food voucher and a private bar.
