All you need to know ahead of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at The Gleneagles Hotel.
When is the ISPS HANDA Senior Open?
The ISPS HANDA Senior Open is the last of the men's Senior Major Championships in 2026 and will take place from Thursday July 23 to Sunday July 26.
There will be a Pro-Am on Tuesday July 21 before a public practice day on Wednesday July 22.
Where is it being held?
The King's Course at The Gleneagles Hotel will play host to the ISPS HANDA Senior Open for the second time having also staged the event in 2022.
The King's Course, along with the neighbouring Queen's, were designed by five-time Open champion James Braid and opened in 1919, five years before the hotel itself.
Eight editions of the Scottish Open from 1987 to 1994 were played over the King's, at the same time as the PGA Centenary Course designed by Jack Nicklaus was being worked on.
The PGA Centenary was then the home of the Scottish PGA Championship - later the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles - from 1999 to 2013.
In 2014 that layout hosted Europe's victory in the Ryder Cup and then five years later also saw Europe lift the Solheim Cup.
How many players are in the field?
A field of 144 players will contest the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.
What is the format?
The ISPS HANDA Senior Open is a 72-hole individual stroke play tournament contested over four rounds.
Who is playing?
The field for the ISPS HANDA Senior Open contains 15 Major champions, ten Open champions, 29 Ryder Cup players and five Ryder Cup captains.
For those not exempt, there are four Qualifying Events which will be held at Blairgowrie Golf Club on both the Rosemount and Lansdowne courses, Stirling Golf Club and Glenbervie Golf Club on Monday July 20.
To view the field, click here.
How many players make the cut?
Players must be in the top 70 places, counting ties, to make the 36-hole cut.
What is the play-off format?
In the event of a tie for first place after 72 holes, there will be a hole-by-hole play-off, where the 18th will be repeated until there is a winner.
What does the winner receive?
As well as the trophy and title of ISPS HANDA Senior Open champion, the winner will also receive their share of a total prize fund of US$2,850,000, with Pádraig Harrington last season taking home US$447,800.
Who is the defending champion?
Harrington became the fifth player in history to win both The Open Championship and the ISPS HANDA Senior Open as he cruised to a three-shot victory at Sunningdale 12 months ago.
The Irishman held a two-shot overnight lead, but he quickly extended that as he got off to a dream start with an eagle at the first and maintained his command to sign for a closing three-under-par 67.
On another day of low scoring over the Old Course, he carded an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys to reach a winning total of 16 under par, with fellow former Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjørn and American Justin Leonard locked in a tie for second.
Harrington joined Bob Charles, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Darren Clarke as a winner of the Claret Jug and the Senior Open trophy.
"There are some great names on the trophy," he said. "I was looking at the board inside with all the winners and it's a deep sense of satisfaction knowing that I've done both."
What are some of the key storylines heading into the event?
Harrington will come into the event full of confidence after winning his fourth Senior Major earlier this month with a successful defence of his U.S. Senior Open title.
Senior PGA Championship winner Stewart Cink is seeking a Major hat-trick of sorts having also won the Regions Tradition, a Major on the Champions Tour.
The other Champions Tour Major is the Kaulig Companies Championship which was won by Zach Johnson this month and he will be looking to maintain momentum on his Senior Open debut.
Among the other players making ther debuts after turning 50 in the last 12 months are Henrik Stenson, Hennie Otto, Vaughn Taylor, Rory Sabbatini and Jamie Donaldson.
Donaldson returns to the scene of perhaps his greatest moment, where he hit the winning shot at the 2014 Ryder Cup, while Clarke makes a happy return to Gleneagles after winning this event in 2022.
Colin Montgomerie, Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher will lead the home charge.
How can I watch it?
Sky Sports has broadcasting coverage of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open in the UK.
For specific broadcast timings of all territories please check your local listings.
