 Todd Hamilton was a surprise Open Champion in 2004 |
International final qualifying for The Open will begin its second year in January, with events in Africa, Asia, Australasia, America and Europe. It starts in Cape Town and culminates in late June at Sunningdale, where Colin Montgomerie qualified last year.
Each of the five events has 120 players and comprises 36 holes, with Africa, Asia and Australasia giving four spots each and America and Europe 12 each.
"Permanent IFQ has been endorsed by Tours worldwide," the R&A said.
The only change to this year's schedule is in America, where 53 US Tour players elected not to try to qualify for The Open at Royal Troon.
Next year's US qualifying will be staged in New Jersey, close to the previous week's US Tour event.
Regional qualifying in Britain will again be staged at 16 venues on Monday July 4, with a total of 12 places being finalised on the weekend of 9-10 July.
This will be played at Ladybank, Leven Links, Lundin and Scotscraig, with The Open Championship beginning at St Andrews on the following Thursday.
INTERNATIONAL FINAL QUALIFYING DATES FOR 2005 OPEN
Africa Jan 13-14, Atlantic Beach, Cape Town
Australasia Jan 25-26, Kingston Heath, Melbourne
Asia April 6-7, Saujana, Kuala Lumpur
America June 27, Canoe Brook, Summit
Europe June 27 , Sunningdale
MMIX
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