Covid forces R&A to rejig Open qualifying

The R&A has announced a revised format for regional and final qualifying for this year’s Open Championship due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Four courses – Hollinwell, Prince’s, St Annes Old Links and West Lancashire – will host both regional and final qualifying so government measures in relation to staging events and international travel are consistent between venues.

Golfers entering regional qualifying will compete over 18 holes of stroke play at one of the four venues on Saturday, June 26, or Sunday, June 27.

Successful qualifiers will then contest final qualifying over 36 holes of stroke play at the same venue on Tuesday, June 29.

A minimum of eight places in The 149th Open at Royal St George’s from July 16-19 will be on offer through final qualifying, with a starting field of 288 across the four venues.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, executive director of championships at the R&A, said: “We recognise that health measures could continue this summer and so we have developed alternative plans for Regional and Final Qualifying based on guidance from the UK government and our medical advisers.”

Tao Geoghegan Hart was taken to hospital for checks after being left feeling “a bit dizzy” following the crash which ended his participation in Paris-Nice on Wednesday.

The Giro d’Italia winner came off his bike on the descent of the penultimate climb, Mont Brouilly, around 19km from the end of the 187.6km fourth stage from Chalon-sur-Saone to Chiroubles.

The 25-year-old Londoner remounted and attempted to finish the stage with the help of his Ineos Grenadiers teammates but was in obvious pain, and the team revealed later they were concerned he had taken a blow to the head.

Geoghegan Hart later posted on his Twitter account: “Landed on my head today. Thank you @ INEOSGrenadiers & the medical team for putting my longterm welfare first when it was clear I wasn’t 100%.

“Little rest, no screentime & hopefully back soon. Ciao all x”

Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic attacked from the peloton three kilometres from the summit finish to take victory, and with it claimed the leader’s yellow jersey from Stefan Bissegger of EF Education-Nippo.

Roglic now leads the race by 35 seconds from Bora-Hansgrohe’s Max Schachmann.