Has Open Final Qualifying Lost Its Magic? Debate Grows After The Open Qualifying

Has Open Final Qualifying Lost Its Magic? Debate Grows After The Open Qualifying

By Alex Christian | MBCF News — July 1, 2026

As the field for the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale takes shape, attention has turned to a growing debate over whether Open Final Qualifying still delivers the unforgettable underdog stories that once defined one of golf's most cherished traditions.

Final Qualifying remains the last opportunity for players to earn a place in golf's oldest major. This year's event was contested over 36 holes at four venues—Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire—with five players from each site securing one of the 20 available places in The Open.

The 2026 qualifying field featured an impressive mix of major champions, LIV Golf players, DP World Tour professionals, PGA Tour competitors, leading amateurs and well-known golf content creators. The strength of the field highlighted how competitive the qualifying process has become.

Among the biggest talking points before play was the withdrawal of two-time major champion Dustin Johnson from the Dundonald Links qualifier. Fellow LIV Golf players David Puig and Carlos Ortiz also withdrew before the event. Meanwhile, former Masters champions Sergio Garcia and Danny Willett competed at West Lancashire but were unable to secure places in The Open after missing the required qualifying positions.

The increasing presence of elite professionals has sparked discussion among golf fans and analysts. Many believe Final Qualifying has become stronger than ever, while others argue it has reduced opportunities for lesser-known professionals and amateurs to achieve the dream of competing in a major championship.

For decades, Final Qualifying produced memorable stories of club professionals and amateur golfers earning surprise places in The Open. Those breakthrough performances became an important part of the championship's history and helped reinforce its reputation as one of golf's most accessible major tournaments.

Although the number of Final Qualifying places has changed over the years, The R&A allocated 20 spots for the 2026 championship, offering more opportunities than in some previous editions. Even so, the increasing number of world-class professionals entering the event means earning one of those places has become more challenging than ever.

Supporters of the current format argue that major championships should feature the strongest possible fields. They believe allowing established professionals to compete through Final Qualifying improves the overall standard of The Open while preserving the principle that every player must earn a place on merit.

Others believe golf risks losing one of its most inspiring traditions. They argue that unknown golfers overcoming the odds to reach The Open create some of the championship's most memorable moments and help preserve the unique identity of the event.

The discussion gained further attention after Golf Monthly published an opinion feature examining whether Final Qualifying has lost some of its traditional romance. One of the publication's writers suggested that adding a fifth qualifying venue—potentially in Ireland—could create more opportunities for amateurs and lower-ranked professionals. However, this was presented as a personal opinion, and The R&A has announced no plans to expand the number of qualifying venues.

Analysis

The debate reflects a broader challenge facing professional golf: balancing elite competition with accessibility.

As professional golf has evolved, more accomplished players now compete in Final Qualifying because they are not automatically exempt for The Open. That trend has undoubtedly increased the standard of competition while making qualification more difficult for club professionals and amateurs.

At the same time, Final Qualifying continues to embody one of The Open's defining principles: every competitor, regardless of reputation or tour affiliation, has the opportunity to earn a place through performance on the course.

Whether Final Qualifying has truly lost its magic remains a matter of opinion. While fewer underdog stories may emerge than in previous decades, the event continues to provide dramatic competition and one of the most challenging routes into a major championship.

Sources: The R&A (Open Championship Final Qualifying), Golf Monthly, Reuters.

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