​The field for the 2026 Open Championship is still taking shape. A total of 156 golfers will line up on the tee sheets when play begins Thursday, July 16, at Royal Birkdale in England, and the final, 156th spot will be decided by the first-ever Last-Chance Qualifier. The R&A has introduced what amounts to an 18-hole, 12-for-1 playoff to be held Monday, July 13 at Royal Birkdale, with the winner earning a place in the final major of 2026.
The Claret Jug will be on display on the 18th green at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, as the week unfolds. On Tuesday, the R&A announced the lineup for what is effectively a high-stakes playoff, featuring 12 players. The list includes Aldrich Potgieter, Matti Schmid, Matt Moloney (a), Joe Dean, Sam Easterbrook (a), Adri Arnaus, John Gough, Angel Hidalgo, Charles Huntzinger, Marcus Helligkilde, Andrew Wilson, and Wesley Bryan. The R&A also stressed that this roster is not set in stone and could change in the days leading up to Monday.
One potential change to the field could come if Matti Schmid or Angel Hidalgo have strong performances at the Genesis Scottish Open, which wraps up the Open Qualifying Series as the final tournament in that series. The top three finishers at the Scottish Open who are not already exempt for the British would earn a tee time at the Open, and that scenario would open the door for another player to join the 12-man Last-Chance Qualifier field.
This development follows a news cycle that has included updates about invitations and the evolving eligibility landscape for the Open Championship. The legitimacy and competitiveness of the Last-Chance Qualifier add an extra layer of drama to an event that remains one of golf’s most prestigious major championships. As organizers watch the countdown to Monday, the possibility of changes to the 12-player field remains a real and anticipated factor, underscoring how dynamic qualifying can be in the weeks leading up to the Open. This report aligns with coverage originally published by Golfweek, highlighting the 12 golfers who accepted invitations to the British Open’s Last-Chance Qualifier in the pursuit of a better position within the field.