The Qualification process for the Open Championship, which underwent a major revision in 2001, will once again be in operation at The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond from July 11-14, 2002.
Effectively, no fewer than 15 exempt places into the Open Golf Championship at Muirfield will be decided at the conclusion of that tournament. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club introduced this new system in a move to make the exemption policy of the Open Golf Championship more reflective of current form.
These new and revised exemptions will continue to give recognition to players who come into form in the weeks immediately preceding the Championship.
As a result, exemptions from Final Qualifying are available to the first seven players (and anyone tying for seventh place) who are not otherwise exempt, in the top 25 of a cumulative money list taken from all official European Tour events from the Volvo PGA Championship up to and including The Barclays Scottish Open (see table on Page 4).
The leading eight players not otherwise exempt after four rounds of The Barclays Scottish Open will also qualify, with no limitations imposed on their finishing positions. (NB: Ties for last place or places will be decided by the better final round score and, if still tied, by the better third round score and then by the better second round score. If still tied, all players thus still tying will be deemed exempt under this category).
The R & A entry conditions stipulate that those players who appear in the draw for rounds three and four of The Barclays Scottish Open will be ineligible to compete in the Final Qualifying Competition. Consequently, the publication of the third round draw for The Barclays Scottish Open will be interpreted as a declaration that a player intends to complete the four rounds of the tournament as it is very difficult to replace between 30 or 40 players who will be playing in the final two rounds at Loch Lomond in the draw for Final Qualifying in East Lothian.
The R & A have to locate 30-40 reserves and inform them of their allocated course and starting times at 24 hours notice. Even then, the players concerned will have no time to practise.
Players who miss the halfway cut in The Barclays Scottish Open will be able to participate in Final Qualifying as usual.
Meanwhile European Tour Member Peter Lonard was among the players who earned exemption to the Open Championship through a cumulative money list running on the US PGA Tour which concluded after the Advil Western Open.
