The Open Championship is reducing the age limit exemption to 55 for winners of the Claret Jug this year and beyond, part of a few tweaks to its exemption categories announced Wednesday.
The Open changed its age limit from 65 to 60 in 2010, and it now will be 55 for anyone winning at Royal Troon and in future years.
It is not likely to have a dramatic effect. Tiger Woods, at age 48, will still have an exemption to play for 12 more years. Phil Mickelson, who won at Muirfield in 2013, will be 54 this year at Royal Troon but will be able to play until he is 60. Ditto for John Daly, who will be 58 at this year’s Open. He can continue playing until 60.
Also among the changes is The Open taking the leading five players from the International Federation Ranking — the top players from the money lists of the Japan, Asian, Australian and South African tours, plus the next-highest player in the world ranking from those tours.