Qualifiers for all 2026 Signature Events, THE PLAYERS and majors

Better later than never, and as it concerns two of the latest three qualifiers for The Open Championship, it’s for the very first time.

Tom Kim prevailed at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday. He delivered a bogey-free, 6-under 64 at The Renaissance Club to win by two strokes over Min Woo Lee. And while Kim has locked up exemptions into the 2027 editions of THE PLAYERS Championship, the Masters and the PGA Championship, as well as a PGA TOUR membership exemption as a winner through 2028, both he and Lee already knew that they were spending a fortnight in the United Kingdom. That’s because both are among the 156 entrants at The Open Championship that concludes the 2026 series of majors.

What no one knew until the dust settled in Scotland was that Johnny Keefer (T3), Michael Thorbjornsen (T7) and Victor Perez (T9) also would be making the trip to Royal Birkdale. The Genesis Scottish Open was the last in the worldwide Open Qualifying Series for which the top-three finishers not yet exempt into the major would punch tickets. Each bagged a spot with their result. Only Perez has appeared previously in The Open, having cashed twice in four starts, neither time for a top-30 finish.

That leaves Monday’s Last Chance Qualifier as the final pathway into the field at Royal Birkdale.

The 18-hole sprint includes a dozen golfers determined by numerous ranked criteria. Unless Aldrich Potgieter prevails, he will be the first alternate as the highest-ranked golfer in the world (as of July 6) not already exempt. Matti Schmid is the next alternate regardless of the outcome of the Last Chance Qualifier. The order of the next 10 alternates will be determined by the inaugural competition in order of finish.

While it didn’t impact The Open, the ISCO Championship that finished a few hours after Kim posed for pictures with his trophy affects a couple of pertinent contests next year.

Steven Fisk held off Taylor Pendrith to win on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff that was held only on the par-4 18th hole of Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Fisk leaps into the top-70 bubble of the FedExCup at 61st with only five tournaments remaining to set the field for the playoffs, so that’s his primary objective. However, he’s now promised exemptions into THE PLAYERS and the PGA Championship next year. His membership exemption as a winner also is extended through his age-31 season of 2028.

NOTE: Until all methods of entry are released by the governing bodies, traditional criteria are used to determine qualifiers. Refer to remaining qualifying criteria at the bottom of the page for details.

OPEN = The Open Championship

Recent additions

OPEN -- Johnny Keefer; Victor Perez; Michael Thorbjornsen

NOTE: Golfers are omitted if they haven’t competed recently in majors for which they are eligible (e.g., The Open Championship = Paul Lawrie).

REMAINING QUALIFYING CRITERIA

• Criteria are listed in chronological order where possible. Best estimates are given but all are subject to change.

The Open Championship (OPEN) at Royal Birkdale Golf Club – July 16-19

• Winner of the Last-Chance Qualifier (July 13).