Final Qualifying for The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush is underway, with 14 LIV Golf players competing across four UK venues—Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports, and West Lancashire—with at least 20 spots available in the 156-player field.
Entering this week, 16 LIV Golf players were already exempt into The Open field.
DUNDONALD LINKS: FINAL QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN
Majesticks GC co-captain Lee Westwood secured a spot in the Open Championship with a fantastic performance in the 36-hole qualifier. Westwood earned medalist honors after rounds of 70-67 to post a 7-under total. The Englishman has found some form recently on LIV Golf. He’s finished T10 in Virginia and had T25s in Dallas and Riyadh.
Westwood last played The Open in 2022 but has a strong history in the championship, including a T4 at Portrush in 2019.
“Royal Portrush is a fantastic golf course, and I played well there last time. I finished fourth in 2019,” Westwood said. “The Open Championship is the greatest tournament on the golfing calendar … I hit some nice shots coming down the stretch there. I think 7 under is pretty good.”
WEST LANCASHIRE: FINAL QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN
Lucas Herbert of Ripper GC has secured a spot at The Open Championship after earning medalist honors at West Lancashire with rounds of 69-67 for an 8-under total. At LIV Golf Dallas, the Australian spoke about the importance of getting into the major championship.
“I love The Open,” Herbert said. “You know, [Herbert’s caddie, Nick Pugh] being from the UK as well, it’s his one major. I think if we could pick one for the year, he would pick that one … I played three or four of them now and love, love my opportunities when I have gotten them to play it. So, yeah, if I can get another one, that’d be great.”
Now that he’s in, Herbert is also high on his chances to do well at Royal Portrush.
“I feel like my game is trending in the right way as well,” he said. “So, if I can play well enough this week or on Tuesday to be able to get in, then my game’s probably in a good enough spot to be able to go and contend.”
ROYAL CINQUE PORTS: FINAL QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN
Dean Burmester of Stinger GC qualified for the Open Championship. The South African played brilliantly over the course of 36-holes to punch his ticket to Royal Portrush.
Burmester finished T23 at LIV Golf Virginia and T18 at LIV Golf Dallas leading into the qualifier. For the season, he is currently 11th in the individual standings. The 36-year old will be making his 4th Open Championship start. He’s had success in the Open, finishing T11 in 2022 and T19 in 2024.
BURNHAM & BERROW: FINAL QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN
Three LIV Golf players (Jinichiro Kozuma, Caleb Surratt, Anirban Lahiri) are competing at Royal Cinque Ports. Check back for updates when play concludes.