Six current HotelPlanner Tour players will tee it up at the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush after advancing through Final Qualifying on July 1.
Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire played host on Tuesday, with five qualifying spots available at each venue and of the 288 golfers who started the day dreaming of a place in Northern Ireland, few finished the gruelling 36 holes happier than South African Justin Walters.
Walters, currently 126th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, carded rounds of 65 and 68 to win the Burnham & Berrow qualifier at nine under par. The 45-year-old, who lost his DP World Tour card in 2023, will make his first appearance at The Open in 11 years and was emotional upon the conclusion of his final round.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in,” he said.
“I have the Royal Liverpool flag framed in my bedroom and I stared at it for a long time two days ago. I just said to myself ‘it would be really nice to play again’ – and so here we are. I’m very happy.
“I’m 45 now and I was worried that I’m running out of opportunities to play on the biggest of stages. So, it really means a lot to me to get it done today.”
Englishman George Bloor produced one of the standout Final Qualifying performances after coming through two rounds at West Lancashire. The former winner of the Clutch Pro Tour Order of Merit signed for two 69s to end the day on six under par and in solo third.
“It feels great to have qualified for The Open, but it still hasn’t sunk in,” he said.
Bloor also highlighted a crucial birdie putt on the 16th which helped him seal his spot at Royal Portrush, where he will make his debut at The Open.
“I made a fifteen foot putt for birdie on 16 and that’s when I thought it could be my day. I followed it up with a great tee shot on the par three and yeah, it just felt that it could happen. I was so pleased.
“I’m just hugely excited to tee it up at Royal Portrush. It’s a childhood dream to play in The Open. When it sinks in finally, I’ll be counting down the days. I’ve had super support today and I’m pretty sure I’ll see family and friends over there.”
Playing on home soil at Dundonald Links, Scotsman Daniel Young continued his fine recent form to confirm his place at the 2025 Open Championship after signing for an impressive five under par second round of 67, to end the day six under par and one shot back of leader, Lee Westwood.
Swede Jesper Sandborg, also playing at Dundonald, advanced to the final Major Championship of the year after signing for rounds of 68 and 71. Sandborg, currently 116th on the Road to Mallorca, finished on five under par, one shot ahead of a two-man play-off.
Finally, at Royal Cinque Ports, current HotelPlanner Tour players John Axelsen and Curtis Knipes both advanced to The 153rd Open after fending off stiff competition, including 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, former world number five Ian Poulter and Spain’s David Puig.
Knipes, who will return to Royal Portrush for a second time after he qualified for the 2019 Open Championship, ended his 36 holes at six under par and in a tie for second alongside his compatriot Nathan Kimsey.
Axelsen, who returned to the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024, secured the final qualifying spot after finishing at four under par, one shot clear of English duo John Gough and Tyler Weaver and American Maxwell Moldovan.
The 153rd Open will take place from July 17-20, 2025.
