A. CONDITIONS(1) The 144th <strong>Open</strong> Championship will be decided by strokeplay over four rounds of 18 holes in accordance withthe Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited andin accordance with the Local Rules approved by R&AChampionships Limited.(2) In the event of a tie after four rounds, the winner willbe decided by a play-off by stroke play over four holes.The play-off will start as soon as practicable after the lastcompetitors have finished their round.The competitor with the lowest aggregate over the fourextra holes will be declared the winner. If the competitorsare still tied having played these four holes, a hole by holeplay-off will be played immediately over the 18th hole onlyuntil a winner emerges. If the play-off involves more than 2competitors, those other than the winner will be deemedto have tied for 2nd place regardless of their scores in theplay-off.(3) The starting field will be 156 competitors. The 70 lowestscores over the first 36 holes and any tying for 70th placewill qualify for the 3rd round on Saturday 18 July and the4th round on Sunday 19 July. If a competitor who hasposted a two round total score that will qualify for the 3rdround, withdraws before or after the 3rd round draw ismade, the competitor’s score will still be used to calculatethe leading 70 places and ties that will determine the cutmark.(4) In the event of play being either delayed or declared nulland void for any round of the Championship, additionalplay will be at the discretion of the ChampionshipCommittee. Additional play will take place on Monday 20July and exceptionally Tuesday 21 July.(5) R&A Championships Limited arranges publicity beforeand during the Championship in the Press and by liveand recorded radio and television broadcasting andfilming and on the Internet. Each competitor by enteringthe Championship and by agreeing to these terms andconditions assigns to R&A Championships Limited and itsassignees and licensees the right in perpetuity throughoutthe world to make, use, exhibit and reproduce in any waynow known or hereafter devised (and to authorise others todo so) for commercial and other purposes from time to timeand at their discretion, motion pictures, still pictures, livetaped or filmed television, sound recordings and any otherreproductions of any description of the competitor madeduring or in connection with the Championship (including,without limitation, during practice and play) withoutcompensation for the competitor or the heirs, successors,executors, administrators or assignees of the competitor.The competitor also assigns the right to use and reproducethe competitor’s name, voice, likeness and biographicalmaterial in any way now known or hereafter devised by R&AChampionships Limited for the purpose of promoting theChampionship and any subsequent <strong>Open</strong> Championships,without compensation for the competitor or the heirs,successors, executors, administrators or assignees of thecompetitor including in circumstances where it mayinclude the logo of a third party or of a sponsor or patron ofthe Championship or any subsequent <strong>Open</strong> Championshipor any other activities undertaken by R&A ChampionshipsLimited. Competitors shall be responsible for ensuring thattheir caddies will assign to R&A Championships Limitedand its successors and licensees equivalent rights in relationto the caddie. Notwithstanding the foregoing grant ofrights, R&A Championships Limited and its assignees andlicensees agree that, other than as permitted above, theywill not authorise any company contractually associatedwith R&A Championships Limited to use the competitor’sname, voice, likeness and biographical material in a waywhich constitutes the endorsement of a product or service,without first requiring such associated company to obtainthe competitor’s authorisation. Also, to comply withcertain contractual limitations relating to advertising ontelevision, competitors assent that they or their caddiesmay not, without the prior approval of R&A ChampionshipsLimited, display any commercial identification on clothingor equipment other than that customarily affixed to andof the normal size and in the normal position on any suchclothing or equipment. The winner shall be entitled to usethe Championship Trophy for promotional purposes withcommercial partners, but such use shall not be excessive,and shall be in good taste and respectful of the traditionand prestige of the Championship. As the owner of allintellectual property rights in and to the ChampionshipTrophy, The R&A may, in its sole discretion, deem anycommercial use of the Championship Trophy to beunsuitable, and in such event the winner shall ensure thatsuch use is discontinued.(6) Competitors shall at all times be liable for the actions of theircaddies and shall ensure that the caddies comply with theConditions as they apply to the competitors. Competitorsshall ensure that their caddies wear clothing of a typeappropriate to The <strong>Open</strong> Championship and, in particular,caddies shall be required to wear an <strong>Open</strong> Championshipover-garment or bib of a type and design as shall besupplied by the Championship Committee. Caddies willbe required to wear such an over-garment or bib duringofficial practice rounds and during the Championship.Competitors’ caddies may not wear headgear, visors orany other items of clothing which displays a logo otherthan the official <strong>Open</strong> Championship logo unless suchlogo represents a contract to which the competitor wasbound at the commencing date of the Championship or anexisting contract to which the caddie was bound as at 31January <strong>2015</strong>.(7) All competitors gaining entry to The <strong>Open</strong> Championshipitself are subject to the provisions of the PGA EuropeanTour’s Anti-Doping Policy in force at the date of theChampionship. Details of the Policy, and the ProhibitedSubstances and Prohibited Methods, are available fromR&A Championships Limited. Competitors who are takingmedication and in doubt as to their clinical status shouldseek advice from R&A Championships Limited not laterthan 21 days before the start of the Championship.(8) All competitors gaining entry into The <strong>Open</strong> Championshipare subject to the provisions of The <strong>Open</strong> ChampionshipAnti-Gaming Policy in force at the date of the Championship.Details of the policy are available from R&A ChampionshipsLtd.(9) A copy of the full pace of play conditions will be posted ateach Championship venue and will be available on request.(10) The specimen conditions in the Rules of Golf are in effectfor Driving Clubs, Conforming Golf Balls and One BallCondition. The specimen condition in Decision 4-1/1 ofDecisions on the Rules of Golf is in effect for Grooves andPunch Marks.(11) Competitors must not ride on any form of transportationduring a stipulated round unless authorised by theChampionship Committee.(12) The wearing of jeans of any colour or shorts is not permittedwhilst practising or competing during any stage of The<strong>Open</strong> Championship.(13) The Championship Committee reserves the right to amendthe Championship conditions and the decision of theCommittee will, in all matters, be final.(14) These terms and conditions shall be governed by andinterpreted in accordance with the law of Scotland.3
OPEN QUALIFYING SERIES - VENUES1AUSTRALIAEmirates Australian <strong>Open</strong>234THAILANDThailand Golf ChampionshipSOUTH AFRICAJoburg <strong>Open</strong>JAPANMizuno <strong>Open</strong>USA6• • •5IRELAND,FRANCE &SCOTLAND•••24JAPANTHAILAND56IRELAND, FRANCE & SCOTLANDIrish <strong>Open</strong> hosted by The Rory FoundationALSTOM <strong>Open</strong> de FranceAberdeen Asset Management Scottish <strong>Open</strong>USATravelers Championship,The Greenbrier Classic,John Deere ClassicSOUTHAFRICA3AUSTRALIA1B. THE OPEN QUALIFYING SERIESFor those entrants not exempt into the Championship undersection E, the qualifying procedure will be as follows:OPEN QUALIFYING SERIES (OQS)(1) AUSTRALIAThe leading 3 competitors, not already exempt, in thetop 10 of the 2014 Emirates Australian <strong>Open</strong>. With theexception of ties for first place, which will be determinedin accordance with the Conditions for the tournamentconcerned, ties will be decided in favour of the highestranked competitor in OWGR at the commencement of thetournament.(2) THAILANDThe leading 4 competitors, not already exempt, in the top12 of the 2014 Thailand Golf Championship. With theexception of ties for first place, which will be determinedin accordance with the Conditions for the tournamentconcerned, ties will be decided in favour of the highestranked competitor in OWGR at the commencement of thetournament. The 2014 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championand runner-up will receive an invitation to play in OQSThailand.(3) SOUTH AFRICAThe leading 3 competitors, not already exempt, in the top10 of the <strong>2015</strong> Joburg <strong>Open</strong>. With the exception of ties forfirst place, which will be determined in accordance withthe Conditions for the tournament concerned, ties willbe decided in favour of the highest ranked competitor inOWGR at the commencement of the tournament.(4) USAThe leading 4 competitors, not exempt, in the top 12 andties in each of the <strong>2015</strong> Travelers Championship and <strong>2015</strong>Greenbrier Classic. The leading competitor, not exempt, inthe top 5 and ties in the <strong>2015</strong> John Deere Classic. With theexception of ties for first place, which will be determinedin accordance with the Conditions for the tournamentconcerned, ties will be decided in favour of the highestranked competitor in OWGR at the commencement ofthe tournament. Blank entries will be made on behalf ofcompetitors qualifying in this category.(5) IRELAND, FRANCE & SCOTLANDThe leading 3 competitors, not exempt, in the top 10 andties in each of the <strong>2015</strong> Irish <strong>Open</strong> hosted by The RoryFoundation, <strong>2015</strong> ALSTOM <strong>Open</strong> de France and <strong>2015</strong>Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish <strong>Open</strong>. With theexception of ties for first place, which will be determinedin accordance with the Conditions for the tournamentconcerned, ties will be decided in favour of the highestranked competitor in OWGR at the commencement ofthe tournament. Blank entries will be made on behalf ofcompetitors qualifying in this category.(6) JAPANThe leading 4 competitors, not exempt, in the top 12 andties of the <strong>2015</strong> Mizuno <strong>Open</strong>. With the exception of tiesfor first place, which will be determined in accordance withthe Conditions for the tournament concerned, ties willbe decided in favour of the highest ranked competitor inOWGR at the commencement of the tournament. Blankentries will be made on behalf of competitors qualifying inthis category.4FINAL QUALIFYING (FQ)(7) Separate FQ competitions of 36 holes each will be playedby stroke play on Tuesday 30 June <strong>2015</strong> at Gailes Links,Hillside, Royal Cinque Ports and Woburn (Marquess).(8) Entrants must intimate on their entry form their preferred(1-4) FQ courses they wish to play. (See section 2. on page1).(9) For FQ, the field will be divided evenly between thedesignated courses. 12 places will be reserved from FQ forthe Championship and these will also be so divided equally.Any competitor who has qualified through FQ is deemedan Exempt Competitor.(10) Ties for last qualifying places in each competition will bedecided by hole by hole play-off as soon as practicable afterthe last competitors have finished play.(11) In the event of play being either delayed or declared nulland void for either round of any FQ, additional play will beat the discretion of the Championship Committee.REGIONAL QUALIFYING (RQ)(12) To determine qualifiers to FQ, separate RQ competitions of18 holes each will be played by stroke play on Monday 22June <strong>2015</strong> at Bruntsfield Links, Buckinghamshire, HankleyCommon, Little Aston, Luffenham Heath, Mere, Moortown,Northumberland, Remedy Oak, Sandy Lodge, The Island,West Lancashire & Wildernesse. If the entry exceeds thenumber that can be accommodated at these courses,additional courses may be added. It may not be possible toallocate all entrants to their preferred courses.(13) Entrants must intimate on their entry form which RQcourses they wish to play. (See section 1. on page 1). If thefield of any of these competitions does not exceed 40 thatparticular competition may be cancelled and the entrantsconcerned required to play in another RQ. After allowingfor competitors who fulfill the conditions under section D,the number of qualifying places available into FQ will bedetermined by the size of each field.(14) Ties for last qualifying places in each competition will bedecided by hole by hole play-off as soon as practicable afterthe last competitors finish their round.(15) Irrespective of play-off places, see B(14), reserve places incase of subsequent withdrawals from FQ will be decided bya card countback, if necessary, from each RQ competition.The card countback will use the second 9 holes or 6 or 3or 2 or 1 hole and, if a tie still arises, the last 6 or 3 or 2or 1 hole of the first 9 holes and, if a tie still arises, by thedrawing of lots.(16) In the event of play being incomplete or declared null andvoid on Monday 22 June, the competition will continue ortake place on Tuesday 23 June at the same venue and atthe same starting times. In the event of play being declarednull and void on Tuesday 23 June, the competition will becancelled and entrance fees refunded in full. No competitorswill go forward from that competition to FQ.
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