Vic Open awarded St Andrews Open exemptions

The top-3 finishers at the Vic Open will earn themselves a spot in the field at The Open at St Andrews in July.

Great news coming from the PGA of Australia today – the Vic Open which is being held next week will have another special incentive for the field.

The top-3 players in the men’s Vic Open field will be awarded automatic exemptions into the field for the 150th Open Championship at St.Andrews in July.

The exemptions are usually awarded to the top-3 players in the Australian Open and the New Zealand Open who haven’t already qualified.

But after both tournaments were cancelled due to COVID restrictions, the Vic Open has been awarded the spots.

Via the PGA of Australia’s media release:

None of the players currently entered in the Vic Open field are qualified to play in the Open Championship in 2022.

This means that the top three finishers at 13th Beach from 10-13 February are all straight into the field for the Open at St Andrews.

“This is a massive opportunity for our players in Australia,” said James Sutherland, Chief Executive of Golf Australia today.

“To think that it’s the 150th Open, played at the home of golf, not to mention the oldest and most famous golf tournament on the planet. We’re absolutely rapt that it was able to happen albeit that we feel sympathy for our friends in New Zealand who unfortunately had to cancel their own Open.”