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Major Announcement Made About Open Championship 2026

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sahil Goswami | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 7:29 AM ET

Golf’s most anticipated major, The Open Championship, is all set to return from July 17-20, 2025, at the iconic Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. Fans are already buzzing about the drama and history the event brings each year, and this time, it might be even more special. With Rory McIlroy chasing a Grand Slam and Xander Schauffele returning as defending champion, Portrush will be electric.

But while 2025 is shaping up to be thrilling, eyes are already turning to 2026, when The Open heads back to Royal Birkdale. Why? Because the R&A just dropped a game-changing update: a Last Chance Qualifier will debut on the Monday of Open week at Birkdale.

Up to 12 golfers will battle it out over 18 holes for a single remaining spot in the field—on the actual Open course, just days before the Championship begins. R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon explained the move was inspired by fan feedback. “They want more live golf, more opportunities to engage with the traditions of golf’s original championship,” he said. “So, we’ve introduced new features… particularly on the days leading up to the Championship.”

It’s a modern twist on an old-school tradition. Even legends like Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer had to qualify back in the day. Hogan, in fact, played a 36-hole qualifier at Carnoustie before winning The Open in 1953.

JUST IN: Next year, The Open Championship will hold a 'Last Chance Qualifier' for the final spot in the field for The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Up to 12 golfers will play for one spot on the Monday of Open Championship week at the historic Southport links. The R&A stated that the… pic.twitter.com/hAyMaxZt9z
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) June 30, 2025

This fresh format is already drawing praise for giving deserving players one final shot at history while offering fans even more high-stakes action. And with a backdrop like Royal Birkdale, it promises to be unforgettable.

So next year, don’t just tune in for Thursday—Monday might be the most intense day of them all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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