It was just over three months ago, August 26th to be precise, that we learnt via a joint Augusta National and R & A press statement the winner of this week’s Link Hong Kong Open will earn a lot more than a hefty first prize cheque but also long overdue automatic entry into both next year’s Masters and Open Championship.
The statement announced plans to “align aspects of the qualification criteria” for the year’s first major in April 2026 and the last one in July and that the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
The two groups indicated they would award invitations to the winners and/or top non-exempt finishers of the 2026 South African Open, 2025 Australian Open, 2025 Japan Open, 2025 Spanish Open, 2025 Hong Kong Open and the 2026 Scottish Open.
THIS WEEK’S 6⃣4⃣th @TheHKOpen A MOST HISTORIC HOSTING @asiantourgolf @hkgolfclub …
With the winner (or top non-exempt), & in the move long overdue, to be afforded entry into 2026 @TheMasters & @TheOpen
Read: https://t.co/z91H92JfxS
Getty
✅ @FTourmiss40610 pic.twitter.com/tfHSz7tEDr
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) October 28, 2025
Earlier this month Englishman Marco Penge was the first to register his name for both 2026 majors in capturing the Open de Espania and now later this week we will applaud a second and, if not already exempt, who will be joining Penge in teeing-up next April also in the ’26 Masters.
It seems only fitting this week’s Hong Kong Open should be on the 2026 Augusta National entry list given it’s strong long-time standing on the Asian Tour while the tournament continues to hold its head high despite the severing of ties in 2020 with it’s former global partner in the DP World Tour.
A reflection of this once strong Asian Tour/European Tour partnership is reflected in all but three European Tour members, from the opening co-sanctioned Asian and DP World Tour Hong Kong Open in 2001 through to a last in 2018, were won by European Tour members.
And a check of Hong Kong Open winners through the years will reveal the strong connection in winning both at Augusta National and also at the Hong Kong Golf club.
There is Ian Woosnam (Won Hong Kong Open in 1987 and the Masters in 1991), Bernhard Langer (Hong Kong 1991 and Masters 1985 & 1993), Tom Watson (Won 1992 Hong Kong Open & Masters in 1977 and 1982), Jose Maria Olazabal (Hong Kong winner in 2001 and dual Masters winner in 1994 and 1999), Rory McIlroy (Won 2011 Hong Kong Open and this year’s 2025 Masters) and this week’s defending champ Patrick Reed (Hong Kong 2024 and 2018 Masters).
That is six dual Hong Kong Open winners boasting a combined 10 Masters winners green jackets.
Not bad for a tournament founded back in 1959.
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