Andrew Wilson will have one more chance to reach The Open after missing out in Final Qualifying by one shot. He is set to compete in the inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale on Monday, with the winner claiming the final place in the championship field.
The one-off event gives near-miss qualifiers an extra route into The Open, something that would not have existed in previous years. Wilson left Dundonald Links last Tuesday after finishing sixth in Final Qualifying, a result that would have ended his hopes of reaching the tournament before the new format was introduced.
One final spot on the line
The Last-Chance Qualifier will feature 12 players in an 18-hole strokeplay competition, with the winner earning the 156th spot in The Open. The tee times begin at 07:30 BST, and the event is designed as a final opportunity for players who were close to making it through Final Qualifying.
For Wilson, the chance is straightforward: there is nothing to protect and everything to gain. He said he had almost forgotten about the new event before receiving an email about it, and he described the opportunity as one with nothing to lose.
“I've got nothing to lose. I could qualify on Monday, and then have four decent rounds in the tournament, which could kick-start your season. Having an opportunity like this is awesome,” Wilson said.
The R&A is adding new events during Open week to improve the spectator experience before the main tournament begins, and the Last-Chance Qualifier is part of that push. Tuesday's schedule also includes The R&A's Heroes Classic, another event created for Open week.
What happens next
If Wilson or another player wins Monday's qualifier, they will tee it up in The Open just three days later. That makes the event unusual even by major-championship standards: one round, one winner, and one final route into the 156-player field at Royal Birkdale.
For a player who finished one shot short at Dundonald Links, the new format creates a second chance that could still change the rest of the season.
