The road to The
146th Open at Royal Birkdale will begin at the Emirates Australian Open,
the first of 15 events in ten countries that will make up The Open Qualifying
Series for 2017.

Two new
events have been added to the schedule for 2017: the SMBC Singapore Open
being played from 19-22 January at Sentosa Golf Club and the Ho Tram Players
Championship at The Bluffs in Vietnam from 13-16 April.

A total of 44
places in The Open are available through the Series, which provides golfers
with opportunities to qualify at events around the world on the PGA TOUR, the
European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Asian Tour, the Japan Golf Tour
and the Sunshine Tour.

The Emirates
Australian Open, which is played from 17-20 November at Royal Sydney Golf Club,
will be the first chance for players to secure a place in golf’s most
international major championship. The leading three players, who finish in the
top ten and ties and who are not already exempt, will qualify for The
146th Open from 16-23 July 2017.

Johnnie
Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director – Championships at The R&A, said, "The
Open Qualifying Series provides golfers around the world with fantastic
opportunities to secure their place in The Open. We are looking forward to
partnering with the Tours again to bring a truly international field to Royal
Birkdale next year."

Three places
in The Open will be on offer at the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and
Kensington Golf Club in February, and four places at Royal Birkdale will be
available at the Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open at JFE Setonaikai Golf Club in
Okayama, Japan in May.

On the
European Tour, three places each at the Open de France, the Dubai Duty Free
Irish Open presented by the Rory Foundation and the Aberdeen Asset Management
Scottish Open will be on offer. On the PGA TOUR, the Quicken Loans National and
the Greenbrier Classic will each have four places available, with the final
place at Royal Birkdale to be secured at the John Deere Classic on the eve of
The 146th Open.

Regional
Qualifying and Final Qualifying events will take place at venues throughout
Great Britain and Ireland.