Elite amateur golfers competing in Europe this summer will once again have the opportunity to qualify for major championship golf. The 2025 editions of The Open Amateur Series and The AIG Women’s Open Amateur Series have been confirmed to offer exemptions to The R&A’s majors this year.
Each series comprises three prestigious international events, culminating in the European Amateur and European Ladies’ Amateur Championships. These final events provide the last opportunity for players to earn World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) points and secure a place in The Open or AIG Women’s Open.
In the men’s series, the player who accumulates the most WAGR® points across the St Andrews Links Trophy, The Amateur Championship, and the European Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into The 153rd Open, to be held at Royal Portrush from 17–20 July. The 2025 European Amateur Championship, which also offers an invite to The Open for the winner, will be contested at Vasatorps Golfklubb, Sweden, from 25–28 June, serving as the decisive event in the race to Royal Portrush.
Similarly, in the women’s series, the player with the highest WAGR® points total from the St Rule Trophy, The Women’s Amateur Championship, and the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship will receive an invitation to compete in the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, from 31 July–3 August. The 2025 European Ladies’ Amateur Championship will take place at Frankfurter Golf Club, Germany, from 23–26 July, and will again be the final event in determining the series' winner.
The men’s series will run for the third year, while the women’s series was introduced in 2024. Irishman Alex Maguire earned his place in The Open at Royal Liverpool by topping the men’s series in its inaugural year in 2023, while Scotland’s Calum Scott followed in 2024 and went on to win the Silver Medal as leading amateur at Royal Troon. In the women’s competition, Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist led the 2024 women’s standings but was already exempt thanks to her European Ladies’ Amateur Championship victory.
The AIG Women’s Open will be played at an earlier date this year, moving from late to early August. This means that those qualifying at the European Ladies’ Amateur Championship will have the added benefit of carrying their good form into the major championship just a few days after the event concludes in Germany on 26 July.
Recognising elite amateur players has been part of The Open Championship’s DNA for many years. The Silver Medal, awarded to the low amateur of the tournament (provided they complete 72 holes) was first introduced in 1949. Many star names have earned this honour across the years, including Sir Michael Bonallack, Jose Maria Olazabal, Tiger Woods, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, the latter of which earned his way to The Open thanks to his European Amateur Championship victory in 2006.
AIG Women’s Open Amateur Series – Counting events
The St Rule Trophy, St Andrews, Scotland: 31 May-1 June
The Women’s Amateur Championship, Nairn, Scotland: 10-15 June
European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, Frankfurter, Germany: 23-26 July
The Open Amateur Series – Counting events
The St Andrews Links Trophy, Scotland: 6-8 June
The Amateur Championship, Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports, England: 16-21 June
European Amateur Championship, Vasatorps, Sweden: 25-28 June
