Augusta National, R&A Extend Global Majors Qualifying Deal
By Staff Writer
2 min read
LoopGolf
Key takeaways
- Augusta National and The R&A extended their global qualifying partnership through the 2027 Masters and The Open.
- Winners of select national opens, including LIV Golf players, can earn invitations to both majors.
- The 2027 Masters runs April 5-11 at Augusta National; the 155th Open runs July 11-18 at St Andrews.
- The 2027 Open Qualifying Series will span 19 events in 15 countries.
Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A announced Monday that they will continue aligning qualifying criteria for the Masters and The Open, extending an arrangement that sends champions of several national opens into both majors starting with the 2027 editions.
How does the qualifying partnership work?
The deal builds on a joint approach first used for the 2026 Masters and Open. It was originally introduced in 2025, when Augusta National and The R&A agreed to award major exemptions to champions of the Scottish Open, Spanish Open, Japan Open, Hong Kong Open, Australian Open and South African Open.
| National Open | Country |
|---|---|
| Scottish Open | Scotland |
| Spanish Open | Spain |
| Japan Open | Japan |
| Hong Kong Open | Hong Kong |
| Australian Open | Australia |
| South African Open | South Africa |
The arrangement also opened a route into the Masters and The Open for LIV Golf players, who can qualify by winning one of the designated national championships.
A win at any of six national opens now carries a ticket into both the Masters and The Open.
"The Masters Tournament has a longstanding history of assembling an international field, so we embrace this opportunity to highlight the global nature of the game of golf," Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said.
What is the Open Qualifying Series?
For the R&A, the extension complements the Open Qualifying Series, which has served as a global gateway into The Open since 2013. Players chasing a spot in the 155th Open at St Andrews can qualify through 19 events across 15 countries. The R&A is expected to detail the full 2027 series schedule and exemption categories on Wednesday.
The 2027 Masters, the 91st playing of the tournament, is scheduled for April 5-11 at Augusta National. The 155th Open Championship follows July 11-18 at St Andrews.
Frequently asked questions
Which national opens count toward Masters and Open qualification?
The Scottish, Spanish, Japan, Hong Kong, Australian and South African Opens have carried exemptions since the arrangement began in 2025.
Can LIV Golf players qualify through this deal?
Yes. LIV Golf players can earn a Masters or Open invitation by winning one of the designated national championships.
When is the 2027 Masters?
The 91st Masters is scheduled for April 5-11, 2027, at Augusta National Golf Club.
When is the 155th Open Championship?
The 155th Open is scheduled for July 11-18, 2027, at St Andrews.
How many events make up the 2027 Open Qualifying Series?
The series will include 19 events spread across 15 countries.
- masters tournament
- the open championship
- augusta national
- the r&a
- open qualifying series
- liv golf
- st andrews
- fred ridley
