​The 154th Open Championship is returning to Royal Birkdale for the 11th time, as the world’s elite players aim to prevent defending champion Scottie Scheffler from securing back-to-back titles. With the tournament kicking off the first round on July 19, a field of 156 golfers will battle to make the weekend cut and keep alive their hopes of lifting the Claret Jug at the end of the event. For the 2026 British Open, the competition features 25 exemption categories that determine who can participate.
Past British Open champions enjoy exemptions until they reach 60 years of age, or 55 if that victory occurred after 2024. In addition, certain players who are otherwise exempt may choose not to participate for various reasons, yet still leave spots open for others to fill. Notable players who have opted out include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and John Daly, creating opportunities for others to step into the field.
One last place is up for grabs through the Last-Chance Qualifier, a single 18-hole stroke-play event scheduled for July 13, which will determine the final entrant from a pool of 12 hopefuls. The remainder of the field is filled via the 25 exemption categories, ensuring a wide mix of established major winners, current form staples, and up-and-coming talents.
Here is an outline of how the 2026 British Open field was assembled and how each player earned their exemption. The list includes a mix of recent major winners, highly ranked players, veterans who have secured lifetime exemptions, and promising newcomers who earned their way through rankings, open qualifiers, or other pathways. Among the participants are familiar names who have repeatedly contended at The Open, as well as rising stars who could make a significant impression at Royal Birkdale.
The field features established major champions such as Cameron Smith, Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry, Henrik Stenson, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Jon Rahm, and Hideki Matsuyama, each bringing a blend of experience and scoring ability to the links. It also includes young talents and recent breakout players like Ludvig Åberg, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Viktor Hovland, who are primed to contend as the weather and course conditions demand precision and strategy.
As always with The Open, the field blends veterans who have proven their mettle on Open venues with newcomers who have earned their spots through touring wins, high finishes, and top-level amateur success. This year’s exemption structure also acknowledges the contributions and endurance of long-time players who have achieved career milestones, while allowing fresh faces to earn their place in championship golf’s oldest and most storied major.
The tournament setup at Royal Birkdale will test every aspect of a golfer’s game: accuracy off the tee, deft iron play, and the ability to navigate variable winds and firm, fast greens typical of Open Championship courses. From morning tee times to the late finishes, spectators can expect dramatic rounds, clutch putts, and a field ready to chase the Claret Jug in a championship that honors the tradition and competitive spirit of one of golf’s greatest events.
For fans following the qualification drama, the Last-Chance Qualifier on July 13 will provide a closing chapter to the field selection, offering a final route for players on the cusp of joining the Open slate. As the week unfolds, the world’s best golfers will test themselves across Royal Birkdale’s storied layout, chasing glory in one of golf’s most prestigious and enduring championships.