The Asian Tour members have a remarkable chance to secure a spot at The Open, set to take place this summer at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. This follows The R&A's recent announcement that three events on the Asian Tour will be included in the Open Qualifying Series.
In an exciting update, the New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, and the International Series Macau, presented by Wynn, have been added to the Series for the first time. Meanwhile, the Kolon Korea Open makes its return, having been a consistent part of the Series since 2018.
The Series, comprising 15 events across 11 countries, underscores The Open's status as a truly global championship.
The New Zealand Open will kick off in just over two weeks at Millbrook Golf Resort in Queenstown, running from February 27 to March 2. This event marks the first opportunity this year for players to secure a place at The Open, scheduled for July 17-20. The top non-exempt player will earn a spot in the year's fourth Major.
Following this, the International Series Macau, presented by Wynn, will take place at Macau Golf and Country Club from March 20-23. This event is notable as the first time an International Series tournament has been included in the Open Qualifying Series. The top three non-exempt players will qualify for The Open, while one additional spot will be available at the Kolon Korea Open, set for May 22-25 at the Dunes Course, La Vie Est Belle in Chuncheon.
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO of the Asian Tour, expressed gratitude to The R&A for the continued collaboration, stating, "This partnership provides our members with an excellent opportunity to compete in The Open, a dream for every professional golfer. John Catlin, our 2024 Order of Merit champion, qualified through the Series last year and achieved his best Major finish, tying for 16th. The Series highlights the talent, diversity, and youth on the Asian Tour, further elevating our standing."
The Asian Tour, an affiliate member of The R&A, saw this relationship lead to the launch of the ADT Players Championship presented by The R&A in Cambodia last year on the Asian Development Tour.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive at The R&A, commented, "We are proud to offer diverse global qualifying opportunities and look forward to seeing which golfers will earn their place at Royal Portrush in July."
Additionally, Regional and Final Qualifying events, open to both professional and amateur golfers worldwide, will be held across Great Britain and Ireland in June and July, leading up to the Championship. These events have also been popular among Asian Tour members.
Ends.