Could we see women entering The Open?

Could we see Charley Hull tee it up with the boys at The Open one day? It’s unlikely the LET and LPGA bomber would enter the oldest men’s major, but did you know there is nothing to stop her having a go?

When entries become available ahead of The Open in July, Hull is among a host of women stars eligible to compete according to the entry conditions.

Can women play at The Open Championship?

The first sees players start at Open Regional Qualifying and go up against the cream of club and professional golfers at several venues across the UK. Those successful must then negotiate Final Qualifying.

But, before you start scrabbling around for the £200 fee, to compete against those scratch and better handicap men, entrants basically need to be one of the best women golfers on the planet.

The criteria here restricted female entries to the top five and ties from the five women’s majors over the last year. This was the outlook of the criteria ahead of the 2024 Open at Troon:

• The top 5 and ties in the 2024 Chevron Championship
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 US Women’s Open
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 AIG Women’s Open
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 Evian Championship

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It’s highly unlikely, though, that any of those who could compete in regional qualifying would have entered.

That’s because the final round of the Women’s PGA Championship, held last year in Sammamish, Washington State, was the day before. That’s 4,500 miles away from the UK.

Another route could see women meeting entry requirements for international qualifying, Final Qualifying, or The Open itself.

If, say, Lexi Thompson received another invite to a PGA Tour event which offered Open spots for those not already qualified, and gained one of those places, she could qualify.

The world’s top women players have been able to enter The Open since 2006 when the conditions were changed.

Peter Dawson, then chief executive of the R&A, said the qualifying criteria was amended to “protect the integrity of the event”.

He said: “Our championship committee pledge to review entry conditions and to assess how women golfers might compete on equal terms with men for a place in the Open.

“As a result I am delighted that a qualification route has now been established for the best women players to gain access to the championship competing alongside men on the same courses and from the same tees.”

The R&A frequently look at the qualification criteria for The Open – recently deciding to reduce the age past champions are exempt from 60 to 55.

Now have your say

Can women play at The Open Championship? Well, now you know! Did you know there was a route for womens players at The Open Championship? Would you like to see them compete? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.

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