The 2022 New Zealand Open is a big winner following the R & As confirmation of those tournaments around the golfing globe to offer places into July’s 150th hosting of the Open Championship.
The R & A advised a total of 46 players qualifying in 16 events and in tournaments hosted in 11 countries will earn a tee-time on the Old Course at St. Andrews.
Absent from staging an Open qualifier, and for the second time in as many years, will be the Australian Open and given both the 2020 and this year’s hosting of one of golf’s oldest national Open’s, has been cancelled due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, and with Golf Australia now working to schedule the event, that was first staged in 1904, later in 2022.
It has seen the R & A present the 2022 New Zealand Open with three places, and among the leading 10 who are not otherwise exempt, into the 2022 Open Championship. The New Zealand Open also is a co-sanctioned Australasian and Japan Tour event.
The 102nd New Zealand Open will be played at Millbrook Resort from March 31-April 3, 2022.
As well, next month’s Singapore Open at the Sentosa club from 20th to 23rd January, 2022 will also be offering three Open Championship tee times.
Another big winner will be the 2022 Barbarsol Championship on the PGA Tour and won this year by Ireland’s Seamus Power with one spot up for grabs into The Open, and with the event being held the same week (July 7th to 10th) as the DP World Tour’s Genesis Scottish Open that again offers three places.
Ireland’s Seamus Power winner of this year’s Barbasol Championship
The Dutch Open, and being held in the last week of May, is another winning and the chance for the top-three finishers, and not already exempt, to also earn a place in The Open.
The PGA Tour stops at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (March 3rd to 6th), RBC Canadian Open (June 9th to 12th) and the John Deere Classic (June 30th to July 3rd) will also carry three invitations into The Open.
There will be four places also on offer at the Mizuno Open in Japan and two places at the KOLON Korea Open.
Of course, there will be all the other exemptions in place via the other three majors, WGC winners, along with the various tour money-lists along with premier tour events along with past Open champions.
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at the R&A, said: “We have worked closely with our colleagues at the leading professional tours to agree on an exciting schedule of events through which golfers can qualify for the 150th Open at St. Andrews.
“There is a real desire among players to be part of this historic occasion at the home of golf and this will undoubtedly spur them on to secure a sought-after place in the Championship next year.”
Regional Qualifying events for the 150th Open will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland on 20 June and with four places available at each venue.
