The Week in Golf: Golf’s crown jewel beckons, but time’s running out to qualify

The summer golf season is flying by and all roads now lead to Royal Portrush Golf Club, where The 153rd Open Championship will be staged from Thursday to Sunday.

For many golfers and fans, it's the crown jewel of the calendar. For those not yet in the field, time is running out to grab one of the few remaining spots.

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One of the newer wrinkles in the Open qualification process has added more intrigue to the global golfing calendar. Through the Open Qualifying Series, players can now earn their place not just through traditional routes, but by excelling in select tournaments throughout the season, and even in events immediately preceding the Open.

For instance, the top two finishers at the Italian Open, not already exempt, secured their place at Portrush. Similarly, Sergio Garcia earned his spot via the LIV Golf League, showing the system’s growing inclusivity while maintaining its competitive edge.

Final Qualifying: All Eyes on July 1st

This week, the spotlight turns to Final Qualifying on Tuesday, July 1st, held across four elite venues:

• Burnham & Berrow

• Dundonald Links

• Royal Cinque Ports

• West Lancashire

These follow the Regional Qualifiers, which took place on June 23rd at 15 venues across the UK and Ireland, a true test of grit and form for hopefuls on the fringe.

Access to the Majors has never been easy, and the stakes are higher than ever. While some names may seem like automatic entries, qualification remains fiercely competitive. With form fluctuating and global rankings in flux, governing bodies appear increasingly nimble, adjusting criteria to ensure deserving talent makes the final field.

In the end, despite the system’s imperfections, it still rewards performance and offers enough chances for the best to break through. As the saying goes, if you’re good enough, you’ll get there.

Legends Tour Makes Chinese Debut

Also worth noting this week is a landmark event on the Legends Tour. The tour heads to China for the first time with the Reignwood Legends Championship, hosted at Reignwood Pine Valley in Beijing.

While the tour caters to senior pros, it continues to offer top-tier golf with a nostalgic twist, featuring players who have shaped the game's history. The UAE has also played host to the Legends Tour previously, with events held at Sharjah Golf & Shooting Club, offering both Pro-Am and individual formats.

This Week in Global Golf (July 3–6, 2025)

PGA TOUR

John Deere Classic

TPC Deere Run, Illinois, USA

Purse: $8.4 million

DP WORLD TOUR

BMW International Open

Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany

Purse: $2.75 million

ASIAN TOUR

International Series – Morocco

Royal Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Morocco

Purse: $2 million

HOTELPLANNER TOUR

Interwetten Open

Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club, Austria

Purse: €300,000

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

KPMG Women’s Irish Open

Carton House, Ireland

Purse: €450,000

LEGENDS TOUR

Reignwood Legends Championship

Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing