More stars handed Open exemptions

The top 30 players from both the European and US PGA Tours will qualify automatically for the 2009 Open, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club has said.

The result is a 50% increase on the current set-up that takes the top 20 players from each Tour.

R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: "The R&A continues to monitor the ever changing golfing world.

"Our championship committee aims to reflect this in the exemptions into the Open Championship."

As a result, International Final Qualifying (IFQ) in Europe will see 96 players going for 10 places, while 78 players will fight for eight places in US qualifying.

IFQ Australasia and IFQ Africa will each have three places available.

The 138th Open will be played at Turnberry in Scotland between 16-19 July next year.

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