The Open Championship is two months away, but the cut-off for qualification in the Official World Golf Rankings is fast approaching.
The top 50 players in the OWGR at the end of this week will automatically qualify for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Those who miss out will have to qualify through qualifying events.
That makes this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson all the more important for those hovering around 50th in the world rankings. It’s the last chance for PGA Tour players to earn the right to compete for the Claret Jug.
But three golfers have made the surprising gamble to sit out this week, in the hopes of making it to Birkdale.
The PGA Tour players who risk their Open Championship spot by missing this week
With the Open Championship qualification cut-off fast approaching, three players in particular have taken a big risk by sitting out this week.
First, Gary Woodland, who won the Houston Open this year. Despite that win, Woodland is 48th in the OWGR, so in the Open Championship for now, but he could easily fall outside of the top 50 if the players behind him have good performances this week.
Also taking a big risk is Nicolas Echavarria, who beat Shane Lowry in the Cognizant Classic but still sits 50th in the world rankings. As is Samuel Stevens, who is currently ranked 51st in the world.
He’s outside the top 50, but because some players in the top 50 are already exempt, Stevens is likely to be included among the top 50 OWGR qualifiers. Last year, eight players outside of the top 50 qualified, and looking at this year’s rankings, any player in the top 60 will likely get in.
But there are a number of players looking to rise in the rankings which could see these three players pushed out.
The players looking to secure an Open Championship ticket this week
There are a few players sitting outside of the top 50 in the OWGR playing this week in the hope of punching their ticket for The Open Championship in July.
The two players with the best chance are Michael Brennan and Pierceson Coody, who are teeing off at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week while sitting 56th and 57th in the world rankings, respectively.
Coody is one of the favorites to win at TPC Craig Ranch, so he’ll fancy his chances of making it to Birkdale with a rise up the rankings.
Ryo Hisatsune and PGA Championship contender Matti Schmid are also playing at Craig Ranch in an attempt to climb the ladder, meanwhile Thomas Detry is playing on the DP World Tour at the Soudal Open.
These are the players Woodland and co will need to be watching as they hope to remain in the top 50 players.
