Presidents Cup players exempt from Open qualifying

ST ANDREWS, Scotland, the 24 players from December's Presidents Cup match in Australia have been exempted from qualifying for this year's British Open at Carnoustie.

The 12 Americans and 12 players from the Rest of the World outside Europe will therefore have the same status as Ryder Cup team members.

It is the first time Presidents Cup players have been given automatic entry into the Open.

In addition, players in the 1994 and 1996 matches can go straight into 36-hole final qualifying without first having to survive regional qualifying.

The U.S. team won the first two Presidents Cup matches but the international team under veteran Australian Peter Thomson beat the Americans 20-1/2 points to 11-1/2 in Melbourne.

TRW