Greg Norman - so close in 2008
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However, with the 150th anniversary Open due to be played at St Andrews from July 15-18 in 2010, the R&A has revealed that a new exemption category has been introduced. Condition F(4) now exempts from qualifying any past Open champions who have finished in the top 10 and ties in any of the previous five Open Championships, thus effectively providing them with a five year exemption into the Open.
Though without mentioning Norman and Watson specifically, Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A, said: "We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open Champions, both in their fifties, challenging to win our championship these last two years.
"We rightly reduced the age of exemption for past champions from 65 to 60 two years ago and our intention was never to remove players still at the top of their game from competing in The Open.”
Norman won the Open twice - in 1986 (Turnberry) and 1993 (Royal St Georges), while Watson has won it five times - 1975 (Carnoustie), 1977 (Turnberry), 1980 (Muirfield), 1982 (Royal Troon) and 1983 (Royal Birkdale).
Without the change, the only way for a player over the age of 60 to be exempt was as the current British Seniors champion or to have finished among the leading players and ties of the previous Open.
FOOTNOTE: Competitors at The Open Championship, International final qualifying in Australasia, Asia, America and Europe and at Local final qualifying will be subject to the new clubface groove regulations as per Decision 4-1/1 of Decisions on the Rules of Golf, says the R&A.
Tell us on the forum: With exemptions tilted toward previous high finishers, current Tour players in the World rankings and Tour-based International qualifying, has The Open reduced too much, the opportunity for regional pros and elite amateurs to win a place in the event. Currently only a dozen places are available from local qualifying.
