The Victorian finally sealed a place in The Open after narrowly missing out on opportunities at the Australian Open, the New Zealand Open and the International Series Macau earlier this season.
Westwood, who has just one top-10 finish on the LIV Tour in 2025, shot rounds of 70 and 67, a seven-under total that was the lowest of anyone in the 68-player field.
It’s not the best look, but it’s also not uncommon in these kind of qualifying events; at last month’s US Open, more than a dozen tour pros failed to finish all 36 holes.
Golf’s oldest major will introduce a 12-player playoff for the final spot in the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, mirroring the Monday qualifier format traditionally used in PGA Tour events.
Two years after he became an ordained monk, Sadom Kaewkanjana is assured of returning to the Open Championship after securing a spot at Royal Portrush via his victory at the Asian Tour’s Kolon Korea Open on Sunday.
At The Open, the task is navigating whatever happens to be in front of you that week, that day, that hour. It’s rarely fair, and never easy. They each reflect the culture they exist within, and the types of champions they produce.
To see Xander and Stefan Schauffele embrace – Xander holding on tight, Stefan’s sunglasses unable to conceal the tears that flowed from behind – was a reminder of the spell this beautifully dumb game has on so many of us.
For all that the former US Open champion performed with notable distinction en route to a tie for second place in the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, there is certainty that he is nearer the end of his career than the beginning.
Xander Schauffele’s second major championship of 2024 suddenly, maybe has started an unexpected debate for who the PGA Tour Player of the Year is. But there’s no debate who was the best player in the year’s four major championships.
Australian Golf Digest
