Of the four major championships, the Open boasts the most internationally diverse field.
Part of how that field is selected is R&A's “Open Qualifying Series” A list of 12-13 tournaments handpicked by The R&A each year. The top finishers of these tournaments (those who have not yet been exempted) will receive an invitation to attend the British Open.
The Australian Open has started this year's Open Qualifying Series with three spots up for grabs.
American Riggs Johnston won, taking his first DP World Tour title in only his second career start. He shot a four-under 68 on Sunday to top the leaderboard while booking a trip to Royal Portrush next July. Yes, Johnston's first win secured him a spot in the 153rd British Open Championship, the first major of his career.
“Just knowing that makes me feel so good.” [I get] more playing opportunities and [I get] Participate in bigger events,” Johnston said.
“It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but it feels great.”
Finishing three shots behind Johnston was Australia's Curtis Luck, who also received an invitation to Royal Portrush. Although he has never played in the British Open, he has won a major tournament before. He tied for 47th at Augusta National in 2017 as an amateur. He also qualified for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in 2020, but missed out.
Mark Leishman earned his third invitation thanks to a T-3 finish at Kingston Heath. Fellow young Australian Jasper Stubbs was also tied for third, but Leishman was higher in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), so the R&A awarded the 41-year-old Australian the third and final ticket.
Leishman, who joined LIV Golf in August 2022, has enjoyed significant success in the majors during his career. He has six top-10 finishes, including a runner-up finish at St. Andrews in 2015, where he lost to Zach Johnson in a playoff. His most recent top 10 finish was a tie for fifth at the 2021 Masters.
However, Leishman has not played in the majors since joining LIV. Since OWGR does not award points in LIV events, his OWGR plummeted to 575th in the world. But Leishman will return to Royal Portrush, where he missed out on the 2019 British Open. In fact, Leishman has failed to qualify in each of his past three British Open appearances. But the Australian will no doubt be delighted to be back in the majors, considering he was ineligible to play in the previous two tournaments.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through. Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
