R&A announces qualifying events for 2016 Open at Royal Troon
Thursday 12 November 2015 18:24, UK
The R&A has announced the qualifying events for The Open at Royal Troon in 2016.
A total of 44 places are available through the series, which gives players on six tours the opportunity to qualify at events around the world
The leading three players who finish in the top 10 and ties, who are not already qualified, will be able to compete for the Claret Jug on the Ayrshire coast next July.
The first tournament scheduled is the Emirates Australian Open from November 26-29 followed by the Thailand Golf Championship (December 10-13).
In the new year, the qualifying series heads to South Africa for the Joburg Open in January, and then the Mizuno Open in Japan.
The Nordea Masters in Sweden is also included this year, along with the FedEx St Jude Classic in Tennessee.
The series finishes with the Alstom Open de France and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open on the European Tour, followed by the Quicken Loans National and the Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour.
Meanwhile, new ticket and pricing options have been introduced for The Open which includes a twilight ticket and a £10 reduction in the price of an adult daily pass bought in advance.
A limited number of twilight tickets will be on offer for the first time at Royal Troon, giving spectators entry to the course on Thursday, July 14 and Friday, July 15 from 4pm onwards for £25.
The price of an adult daily ticket has been reduced from £70 to £60 if purchased before May 31, rising to £80 thereafter. Weekly tickets, valid from July 10-17 inclusive, have also been reduced by £10 to £230 before May 31, rising to £260 after the deadline.
High prices were blamed for a drop in attendance at Muirfield in 2013 and were frozen at Hoylake in 2014 before rising by £5 for this year's event at St Andrews.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said: "We recognise that many people have work commitments during the week and the new twilight tickets will give them an attractive option to attend the Open.
"We have also made some changes this year to encourage and reward spectators who purchase tickets early which helps us with planning the services and facilities we offer at the Championship."
