Editing The Open Championship (section)

==Structure==
{{see also|The Open Championship format and qualification}}

===Qualifying===
{{see also|The Open Championship format and qualification#Current qualifying process|l1=Qualifying process}}
Qualifying was introduced in 1907, and for much of its history, all players had to go through the qualification process. In the modern era, the majority of players get an exemption from qualification which is awarded for previous performance in the Open, performance in high-profile global tournaments (such as other [[Major (golf)|majors]]), performance in top [[golf tour]]s, or a high position in the [[Official World Golf Ranking]] (OWGR). Five amateurs are also exempt from qualifying by winning various global amateur titles provided they maintain their amateur status prior to The Open.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theopen.com/Players/Exemptions |title=Exemptions |website=The Open |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720195127/https://www.theopen.com/Players/Exemptions |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another way of qualifying is to finish in a high position in the Open Qualifying Series of global events, which are about twelve tour events across the globe, run by various local golfing organisations.<ref name="Qualification">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theopen.com/Qualification |title=Qualification |website=The Open |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117070138/https://www.theopen.com/Qualification |url-status=live }}</ref>

Any male professional golfer, male amateur golfer whose playing handicap does not exceed 0.4 (i.e. scratch) or has been within [[World Amateur Golf Ranking]] listing 1–2,000 during the current calendar year, and any female golfer who finished in the top 5 and ties in the latest edition of any of the five [[Women's major golf championships|women's majors]] is eligible to enter local qualifying. If they perform well they will go on to Final Qualifying, which is four simultaneous 36-hole one-day events held across the UK, with 12 players qualifying for the Open.<ref name="Qualification"/> If there are any spots left, then alternates are made up from the highest ranked players in the OWGR who are not already qualified, which brings the total field up to 156 players.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.golf.com/mcdowell-among-11-alternates-added-british-open |title=Graeme McDowell Among 11 Alternates Added to British Open |date=27 June 2016 |work=Golf.com |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-date=17 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117122300/https://www.golf.com/mcdowell-among-11-alternates-added-british-open |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, the OWGR gave the Open a strength of field rating of 902 (the maximum possible is 1000 if the top 200 players in the world were all in a tournament). This was only bettered by the [[PGA Championship]], a tournament which actively targets a high strength of field rating.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.owgr.com/events?pageNo=1&pageSize=400&tour=&year=2018 |title=Events |publisher=OWGR |access-date=16 January 2019 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104133938/http://www.owgr.com/events?pageNo=1&pageSize=400&tour=&year=2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/golf/article44500056.html |title=World's top 100 ranked players entered in PGA at Valhalla |date=29 July 2014 |website=Kentucky.com |access-date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=19 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121205/https://www.kentucky.com/sports/golf/article44500056.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Format===

'''Field''': 156 players<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2018-frequently-asked-questions|title=British Open 2018: Frequently Asked Questions|date=9 July 2018|work=GolfWorld|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=17 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117082624/https://www.golfdigest.com/story/british-open-2018-frequently-asked-questions|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Basic Format''': 72 hole [[stroke play]]. Play 18 holes a day over four days, weather permitting.<ref name=":2" />

'''Date of Tournament''': starts on the day before the third Friday in July.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.supersport.com/golf/golf-globe/future-venues-dates-golf-majors|title=Future Men's Major Championships – dates and venues|work=Supersport|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114055323/https://www.supersport.com/golf/golf-globe/future-venues-dates-golf-majors|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Tournament Days''': Thursday to Sunday.<ref name=":2" />

'''Tee off times''': each player has one morning and one afternoon tee time in first two days in groups of three, which are mostly randomised (with some organiser discretion). Groupings of two on the last two days with last place going off first and leaders going out last.<ref name="TeeOff">{{Cite news|url=https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/01/31/how-pga-tour-determines-tee-times-groupings-pairings-tournaments-108205/|title=How the PGA Tour determines tee times and groupings each week|date=31 January 2018|work=GNN|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020326/https://thegolfnewsnet.com/golfnewsnetteam/2018/01/31/how-pga-tour-determines-tee-times-groupings-pairings-tournaments-108205/|url-status=live}}</ref>

'''Cut''': after 36 holes, only top 70 and ties play the final 36 holes.<ref name=":2" />

'''Playoff''': if there is a tie for the lead after 72 holes, a three-hole aggregate playoff is held; followed by sudden death if the lead is still tied.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harig |first1=Bob |title=The Open switches to 3-hole aggregate playoff |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/golf/story/_/id/27126582/the-open-switches-3-hole-aggregate-playoff |publisher=ESPN |access-date=17 July 2023 |date=5 July 2019 |archive-date=17 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717142316/https://www.espn.co.uk/golf/story/_/id/27126582/the-open-switches-3-hole-aggregate-playoff |url-status=live }}</ref>