The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has introduced five international qualifying competitions for next year's Open Championship at Royal Troon. The new competitions will take place in South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Britain and America.
The idea behind the scheme is to make it more convenient and less expensive for players from overseas to qualify.
Cape Town will stage the first qualifier on 8/9 January with four places up for grabs.
There will also be four places available in the Australia and Malaysian groups but 12 players will go through from Britain and the USA.
 | International Qualifers in 2004 South Africa: Atlantic Beach Golf Club, Cape Town 8/9 Jan Australia: Kingston Heath Golf Club, Melbourne 20/21 Jan Malaysia: Saujana Golf Club Kuala Lumpur 30/31 March England: Sunningdale Golf Club, Berkshire 28 June USA: Congressional Country Club, Maryland 28 June |
The international qualifiers (IFQs) are open to any professional who has a world ranking point.
Amateurs will still get their chance to take part in golf's oldest tournament by competing in the traditional local qualifying rounds.
Local final qualifying (LFQs) will be held in Glasgow, Irvine, Turnberry Kintyre and Western Gailes on 10/11 July with 12 places up for grabs.
"We hope the new system will make it easier for world ranked players who might not otherwise be exempt, to attempt to qualify for the Open" said Michael Tate, assistant secretary of the R&A.
"We believe most world-ranked players will opt to play in one of the IFQs, leaving the LFQs for players with less or no world ranking points. "It should be no more difficult for amateurs and club professionals to gain one of the exempt places."
The international European qualifier will take part at Sunningdale on 28 June the same day as the Congressional Country Club, Maryland hosts the American equivalent.
MMIX
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