By Tony Webeck

Members of the PGA Tour of Australasia have been given a golden opportunity to play their way into the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews next July following the announcement of The Open Qualifying sites by the R&A.

Sixteen events across 11 countries will be staged in the lead-up to arguably the most coveted championship in world golf to be staged in 2022 at the home of golf, the Old Course at St Andrews.

A minimum of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour, Korean Tour, Japan Golf Tour and Sunshine Tour.

For the first time, the New Zealand Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia will feature as part of the Series when it is played at Millbrook in Queenstown from 31 March-3 April. Three qualifying places will be offered at New Zealand’s national championship.

“We have worked closely with our colleagues at the leading professional tours to agree an exciting schedule of events through which golfers can qualify for The 150th Open at St Andrews,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A.

“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.”

The New Zealand Open will offer three places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties, providing a direct pathway to what will be the highlight of the 2022 golf year.

The winner of the 2021/2022 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit will also receive an exemption into The Open.

Australian players already exempt for next year’s Open are Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert, Jason Scrivener (Top 30 in 2021 DP World Tour rankings) and Cameron Smith (Top 30 players from the final 2021 FedExCup Points list). Full list of Open Qualifying Series sites OQS-Singapore SMBC Singapore Open 20-23 January Sentosa, Singapore 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties OQS-USA Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard 3-6 March Bay Hill, Orlando 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-New Zealand New Zealand Open 31 March–3 April Millbrook, Queenstown 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-Japan Mizuno Open 26-29 May JFE Setonaikai Golf Club, Kasaoka 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties OQS-Netherlands Dutch Open 26-29 May Bernardus Golf, Cromvoirt 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-Canada RBC Canadian Open 9-12 June St George’s Golf and Country Club, Toronto 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties OQS-Korea KOLON Korea Open 23-26 June Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties OQS-Final Qualifying 28 June Fairmont St Andrews Hollinwell Prince’s St Annes Old Links Minimum of 12 places to the leading 3 players at each venue. OQS-Ireland Irish Open 30 June-3 July Mount Juliet Estate, Co. Kilkenny 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-USA John Deere Classic 30 June-3 July TPC Deere Run, Silvis 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-Scotland Genesis Scottish Open 7-10 July Renaissance Club, North Berwick 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties OQS-USA Barbasol Championship 7-10 July Keene Trace, Nicholasville 1 place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top 5 and ties