The Open will offer a new wrinkle ahead of the 2026 championship at Royal Birkdale – an on-site Monday qualifying event.
With the opening last Monday (and through July 24) of the ticket ballot for the 154th Open, the R&A announced several enhancements inspired by a survey of fans to increase on-site opportunities to watch live golf.
The last-chance qualifier will be staged on Monday, July 13, 2026, with up to 12 players competing over 18 holes at the Southport, England, links to decide who earns the final place in the field ahead of the draw being announced. More details will be announced later.
A short-format challenge “heroes classic” with past champions and invited special guests will take place on Tuesday in a celebration of the Open’s long-standing traditions.
“We have asked (fans) how we can make their experience of attending the Open even more enjoyable and they have been clear – they want more live golf, more opportunities to engage with the traditions of golf’s original championship and more activities onsite to watch, listen and play.
“As a result, we have introduced new features which we believe will elevate the Open for fans, particularly on the days leading up to the championship, providing a memorable experience of attending Royal Birkdale with friends and family next year.”
The Sunday before Open week will include on-site screening in the spectator village of the Wimbledon men’s final as well as the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open while on the eve of the championship fans will be treated to "The Open Preview Show." READ MORE
John Uzielli, who died last week at aged 88, cut quite a swathe through amateur golf in Britain.
“It was his joy. He was passionate about it,” recalled Michael Attenborough, Uzielli’s close friend and himself a well-known figure in those circles having represented GB& I in the 1967 Walker Cup. “He was delightful company, hugely enthusiastic about almost everything. Though staid, he was gloriously volatile when it came to his own golf and close to most of what was going on in golf. People forget how good he was because of the prowess of Angela, his wife, who was British Amateur champion.
“He was a conservative, a traditionalist,” Attenborough continued. “New ideas did not fall naturally upon him. I doubt he ever wielded a long putter. I am not sure he would know what the words ‘roll back’ [of the ball] mean.”
Uzielli was one of those destined to lead, albeit in a quiet style, one who would observe without saying too much and to whom others would turn for advice, a good example of the wise old man in the corner.
He captained Oxford against Cambridge in 1960, won the President’s Putter in 1965, served as captain of the Oxford and Cambridge Golfing Society from 1984 until 1986, becoming president from 1999 to 2003. In these circles he was affectionately known as “The Italian” because of his surname.
Uzielli became a member of the R&A in 1979 and was an active administrator serving time on the Rules of Golf committee, the Championship, the General, the Heritage and the St Andrews Trust committees before becoming captain of the club for the 2000-01 term.
“I met him on my first evening at Trinity College, Oxford, nearly 70 years ago,” Attenborough said. “He loved golf, his old school, Oxford, his work. He was president of almost everything. Most of all he cherished friendships. I loved him.” READ MORE
World Golf Hall of Famers including Nick Faldo, Tony Jacklin, Bernhard Langer, Pádraig Harrington and David Graham are reportedly not included for a portion of the $75 million equity share to be distributed among 36 living “past legends” who were “instrumental to building the modern PGA Tour based on career.”
Golfweek reported that Faldo received a letter from commissioner Jay Monahan that “basically said I haven’t played enough and won enough,” Faldo said. “I guess we were the wrong era.”
Jacklin, who attended all the player meetings and competed when the PGA Tour was officially formed in 1968, told Golfweek: “I was flying the flag for the PGA Tour before the guys who made these decisions were even born. I feel let down.”
Adam Scott, one of the player directors on the PGA Tour Policy Board, said he’s been contacted by a number of disgruntled legends apparently left off the undisclosed list: “I’ve heard from a lot of people that don’t like it.” READ MORE
On a podcast hosted by golf instructor Rick Shiels, LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil talked, among other things, about his relationship with incoming PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp and about LIV’s likely investment into women’s professional golf.
“I think in the next two or three years you’ll see us enter women’s golf, and fortunately on a platform of incredible investment by the kingdom and through Aramco and through Golf Saudi,” O’Neil said.
O’Neil said “we’re friends, for sure” regarding his relationship with Rolapp, noting their familiarity as long-time executives in U.S. sports as well as going to the same Mormon (LDS) church. He hopes that relationship might help in negotiations between the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
“Are there opportunities for our golfers to play more golf together? Absolutely,” O’Neil said. “Is Brian here going to help facilitate that at a faster pace than it otherwise would? Of course. … Hopefully it leads to good things.”
O’Neil stopped short of saying he’d invite Rolapp to a LIV Golf event. “He’s someone I know really well and have a lot of respect for,” he said. “I doubt he’ll come, it’ll be too much of a new circus. I don’t think I would encroach on his energy, too. I imagine he’ll come to the Open and we’ll spend some time.” HEAR MORE
TAP-INS
The European Club, the Irish links founded in 1987 on 193 acres at Brittas Bay in County Wicklow by renowned course designer and golf journalist Pat Ruddy, has reached an agreement to sell to auto dealers Raymond and Nicky Conlan in a landmark deal reported by The Irish Independent to exceed €35 million. READ MORE
The Folds of Honor foundation, which provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of U.S. military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving their country and communities, created a scholarship in the name of Nick Dunlap at his alma mater, the University of Alabama. Kylie Baldeosingh is the inaugural recipient to attend graduate school studying communication disorders with a career goal to become a speech-language pathologist. READ MORE
American golfer and commentator Judy Rankin was awarded the Honorary degree Doctor of Laws (LLD) alongside graduating students at the University of St. Andrews on Monday. In her address to the graduating class, the World Golf Hall of Famer said: “Find joy in small things; as you age, they will stack up and it’ll become a whole library of the small things that made you smile. And when you think back on them, they’ll make you smile again. Be grateful. Find contentment, and you will have a good life.” READ MORE
LPGA interim commissioner Liz Moore is one of 50 women who will be honored as a “Game Changer” by the Sports Business Journal at a ceremony and reception Sept. 24 in New York. READ MORE
Worldwide Golf and Capitol Hill Group partnered to acquire Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation via a definitive merger agreement in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $112.7 million. READ MORE
Compiled by Scott Michaux and John Hopkins