​Between the conclusion of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday and the kickoff of the 2026 Open Championship on Thursday lies the first-ever Last-Chance Qualifier. The R&A has added a distinctive twist this year: a unique 12-player qualifier vying for the 156th and final spot in the Open. The announcement came on Saturday, revealing that Marcus Helligkilde withdrew, opening a slot for Frazer Jones, who becomes the third amateur in this qualifier field.
The action will unfold around the grandstand that frames the 18th green at Royal Birkdale, the English venue that will host the Open for an 11th time. The Last-Chance Qualifier will be contested over 18 holes at Royal Birkdale, with the Open title on the line once again. Players tee off at 7:30 a.m. local time, followed by the rest of the field as the day progresses: Matt Moloney (a), Andrew Wilson, Adri Arnaus at 7:30 a.m.; John Gough, Charles Huntzinger, Sam Easterbrook (a) at 7:41 a.m.; Joe Dean, Frazer Jones (a), Matti Schmid at 7:52 a.m.; and Wesley Bryan, Aldrich Potgieter, Angel Hidalgo at 8:03 a.m. The event will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. local time in England, corresponding to 2:30 a.m. Eastern Time in the United States.
Live scoring updates will be provided at TheOpen.com as the contenders chase one final opportunity to earn a place in golf’s premier championship. The Last-Chance Qualifier adds a dramatic, last-minute pathway for players who have battled through weeks of touring schedules and qualification campaigns to secure the last open berth in the field. For context, Todd Kelly serves as an assistant managing editor at Golfweek, and the following report originally appeared on Golfweek in coverage focused on the 2026 Last-Chance Qualifier tee times and the race for the final Open Championship spot.