The Top 25 of the Race (and no longer the Top 30) will be able to compete in the next The Open

To hope to be at the start of the 153rd The Open in history next July at Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland), you will now have to finish in the Top 25 of the Race. Information that European Tour players received by email just before the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Without the slightest explanation…

LV, in Dubai

This is information that has gone under the radar but is far from trivial. The Top 25 of the Race (and no longer the Top 30) at the end of the DP World Tour Championship will qualify for the 153e The Open of History organized at Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland) from July 17 to 20, 2025.

A “hard blow” for golfers ranked around 30th place (downstream or upstream) in the Race to Dubai. Especially for the French Frédéric Lacroix et Ugo Coussaudrespectively 28th and 31st in this same Race before the final meeting of the 2023-24 season.

There is no explanation. We lose five places there and we don't know any more. The Open is still our Major.

Romain Langasque

« We learned this by email on Monday from Abu Dhabi (November 4), underlines, incredulously Romain Langasquewho we met at the beginning of the week at Jumeirah Golf Estates. Even me, who is part of the Players Committee, they (le DP World Tour) didn't talk about it… There is no explanation. We lose five places there and we don't know any more. The Open is still our Major (for players from the European Tour). We are a bit like the fifth wheel of the car, the one that is in the trunk. We don't have much of a say in this story. You just have to adapt. »

Five places for LIV Golf players?

So why such a decision? Would this confirm a probable future agreement signed between the PGA Tour (and therefore the DP World Tour) and the LIFE Golf (via le Public investment fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia) and which would allow the five best of the dissident Tour to participate in the oldest Major in History?

« There may be things going on behind the scenes regarding this.breathes Romain Langasque again. There are more and more rumors about this. A little more since (Donald) Trump was elected President of the United States. Many people say it will help in the talks. Rory (McIlroy) hinted last week. And when he speaks, there is often a lot of truth. But for the moment, we have no news, not the slightest echo! »

Photo : Ross Parker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images