St Andrews, Scotland – The road to Royal Portrush will include a stop in Hamilton, Ont.
The R&A announced today that next years RBC Canadian Open will be one of 16 events in 11 countries that will make up The Open Qualifying Series for 2019.
The Emirates Australian Open, which is being played from 15-18 November at The Lakes in Sydney, will be the first opportunity for players to secure their place at Royal Portrush next year. The leading three players, who finish in the top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The Open.
A total of 46 places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Korean Tour, the Japan Golf Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
“The race to qualify for The Open at Royal Portrush has well and truly begun and we are eagerly anticipating an exciting series of events as golfers around the world aim to book their place at the Championship,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A. “We know that there is real excitement at the prospect of The Open returning to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 70 years and it will undoubtedly act as an extra incentive for those players who are hopeful of teeing it up at the famous Dunluce links in July.”
The 2019 RBC Canadian Open will take place June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country CLub, offering up three qualifying places into The 148th Open.
Regional Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout Great Britain and Ireland.
The Open Qualifying Series (TOQS) will offer the following qualification places in The 148th Open:
| The Open Qualifying Series | Event | No of Places | Detail |
| TOQS-Australia | Emirates Australian Open
15-18 November 2018 The Lakes, Sydney |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-South Africa | South African Open hosted by The City of Joburg
6-9 December 2018 Randpark, Johannesburg |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-Singapore | SMBC Singapore Open
17-20 January Sentosa, Singapore |
4 | 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties |
| TOQS-USA | Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
7-10 March Bay Hill, Orlando |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-Japan | The Mizuno Open
30 May-2 June The Royal, Ibaraki |
4 | 4 places to the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 12 and ties |
| TOQS-Canada | RBC Canadian Open
6-9 June Hamilton, Ancaster |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-Korea | KOLON Korea Open
TBC Woo Jeong Hills, Cheonan |
2 | 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties |
| TOQS-Spain | Andalucía Valderrama Masters
27-30 June Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-USA | Rocket Mortgage Classic
27-30 June Detroit Golf Club, Michigan |
2 | 2 places to the leading two players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 8 and ties |
| TOQS-Final Qualifying | 2 July
Fairmont St Andrews Notts (Hollinwell) Prince’s St Annes Old Links |
12 | 3 places to the leading three players at each venue. |
| TOQS-Ireland | Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
4-7 July Lahinch, Co. Clare |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-Scotland | Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open
11-14 July The Renaissance Club, East Lothian |
3 | 3 places to the leading three players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top 10 and ties |
| TOQS-USA | John Deere Classic
11-14 July TPC Deere Run, Illinois |
1 | One place to the leading player (not otherwise exempt) who finishes in the top five and ties |
| 46 |
NB: Any player who has qualified through The Open Qualifying Series is deemed an exempt player. In the event that that player subsequently fulfils other exemption categories those places in the starting field will be subject to Section F of The Open Entry Form.