Could we see women entering The Open?

Could we see Charley Hull tee it up with the boys at Royal Troon this summer? It’s unlikely the LET and LPGA bomber would enter the 152nd renewal of The Open, but did you know there is nothing to stop her having a go?

With entries open ahead of this year’s tournament on the Ayrshire coast in July, Hull is among a host of women stars eligible to compete according to the entry conditions.

What routes are available for women to enter The Open?

The first sees players start at Open regional qualifying – and go up against the cream of club and professional golfers at one of 14 venues across the UK.

This year sees qualifiers at the likes of Fulford, North Hants, Kedleston Park, Bearwood Lakes and Caldy. 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 restricts female entries to the top 5 and ties from the five women’s majors over the last year.

• The top 5 and ties in the 2024 Chevron Championship (yet to be determined)
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 US Women’s Open (Allisen Corpuz, Charley Hull, Jiyai Shin, Nasa Hataoka, Bailey Tardy – blank entries will be made on behalf of players qualifying in this category)
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (Yin Ruoning, Yuka Saso, Carlota Ciganda, Megan Khang, Lin Hiyu, Stephanie Meadow, Anna Nordqvist)
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 AIG Women’s Open (Lilia Vu, Charley Hull, Jiyai Shin, Kim Hyo-joo, Amy Yang)
• The top 5 and ties in the 2023 Evian Championship (Celine Boutier, Brooke Handerson, Celine Borge, Nasa Hataoka, Kim A-lim, Gaby Lopez, Yuka Saso)

It’s highly unlikely, though, that any of those who could compete in regional qualifying will enter.

That’s because the final round of the Women’s PGA Championship, held this year in Sammamish, Washington State, is 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 would go straight to Royal Troon.

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

Did you know there was a route to The Open for female players? Would you like to see them compete? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.

• NOW READ: 55 and out: R&A changes exemption rules for past Open champions

• NOW READ: Everything you need to know about The Open