The Open: Which LIV Golf players are teeing up at Royal Birkdale and how did they qualify?

Anticipation is slowly building for the final men's major of the year.

The 154th Open Championship gets underway next Thursday at Royal Birkdale. 

The Southport-based venue will be staging golf's oldest major for the 11th time, with the course last hosting the championship in 2017. 

Back then, America's Jordan Spieth produced one of the most dramatic finishes in Open history to win his third major title. 

Spieth's compatriot, Scottie Scheffler, is the reigning Open champion and is the pre-tournament betting favourite.

The world number one has failed to reproduce his otherworldly 2025 form but his consistency appear to make him the player to beat.

A plethora of LIV Golf players are also in the 156-man field at Royal Birkdale. 

Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, who have each won two majors, perhaps represent LIV's best chances of success.

But who else is representing the renegade tour at the 2026 Open and how did they qualify?

GolfMagic has decided to take a look...

Jon Rahm

Qualification method: Official World Golf Ranking

Open appearances: 9

Best finish: T3 (2020)

Bryson DeChambeau

Qualification method: Exempt through 2024 U.S. Open victory

Open appearances: 8

Best finish: T8 (2022)

Cameron Smith

Qualification method: Exempt as past champion

Open appearances: 8 

Best finish: Win (2022)

Joaquin Niemann

Qualification method: Leading LIV Golf player

Open appearances: 6

Best finish: T53 (2022)

Louis Oosthuizen

Qualification method: Exempt as past champion

Open appearances: 18

Best finish: Win (2010)

Lucas Herbert

Qualification method: Final Qualifying

Open appearances: 5

Best finish: T15 (2022)

Laurie Canter

Qualification method: 2025 Race to Dubai standings

Open appearances: 6

Best finish: T17 (2023)

Tom McKibbin

Qualification method: Open Qualifying Series

Open appearances: 2

Best finish: T66 (2024)

Scott Vincent

Qualification method: Open Qualifying Series

Open appearances: 1

Best finish: M/C (2022)

Peter Uihlein

Qualification method: Final Qualifying

Open appearances: 4

Best finish: T44 (2017)

Caleb Surratt

Qualification method: Final Qualifying

Open appearances: 0 

Best finish: - 

Josele Ballester

Qualification method: Final Qualifying

Open appearances: 1

Best finish: M/C

Notable LIV Golf players not in the field

Sergio Garcia attempted to come through Final Qualifying but, despite a spirited effort, came up short. 

The Spaniard said he struggled to concentrate after he ate a dodgy lasagne at the halfway stage of the 36-hole qualifier. 

Phil Mickelson has missed all four majors this year owing to a private family health matter. 

Mickelson, who has also only played once in the LIV Golf League, is also facing accusations of misconduct that have cast a new shadow over his reputation. 

The 56-year-old has not revealed when or where he is likely to tee it up again. 

Dustin Johnson will also miss his first Open since 2008. 

The former world number one was scheduled to take part in Final Qualifying but decided against playing. 

According to Johnson's agent, the American simply did not want to make multiple trips across from the United States to the United Kingdom. 

Australia's Elvis Smylie had qualified for the 2026 Open but withdrew injured.