Cabrera came second in the Volvo PGA Championship in May

Final qualifying rounds in the US, Australia, Malaysia, Africa and England were introduced this year.

And Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient Club, was delighted with the number of qualifiers who made the cut.

"I think that is a very successful outcome," he said.

The American qualifying event was particularly poorly attended, with 53 players failing to turn up, and an investigation is continuing in tandem with the United States Golf Association.

Dawson conceded on the eve of the Open that a later exemption date for the world's top 50 will be considered.

World number 36 Angel Cabrera missed out on a place at Royal Troon after making the top 50 after the cut off.

"Having introduced international qualifying it would have been a miracle if we had got it right first time," said Dawson on Wednesday.

Dawson said he was particularly pleased the changes did not take away from the local qualifying events the weekend before the tournament.

"Overall the new process has been a success and we are very pleased to open up the championship internationally," he added.

"We were concerned to maintain local qualifying and the accusation that this was going to shut out the 'smaller man' has proved unfounded.