LONDON, September 1, 2011 (AFP) - Changes have been made to the final qualifying stages of The Open, with four courses around England and Scotland being used in future rather than venues that are all close to the championship course.
From 2014, the four courses used for the final qualifying stage will be Royal Cinque Ports in Deal, Hillside in Southport, Woburn near Milton Keynes and Glasgow Gailes near Ayr.
Competitors at each venue will compete for three places in the field at The Open itself.
"This alteration to the qualifying make-up will offer a more geographically convenient way for competitors seeking to achieve a starting place in the Open Championship," said Rhodri Price, the Royal and Ancient Club's assistant director of championships.
"The R&A have maintained a very close relationship with all venues associated with the qualifying stages and this is a natural step towards continuing to offer competitors wishing to enter within Great Britain and Ireland a route into the Open Championship."
The new format is therefore due to be used for the first time when The Open returns to the Royal Liverpool Club, at Hoylake on the Wirral, in 2014, with the traditional system being retained ahead of the 2012 Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes and for Muirfield in 2013.