Past champions age limit to be reduced to 55 for The Open

The age limit for past champions of The Open to play at the tournament has been reduced once again, from 60 to 55 for the winners of this year's edition, organisers the R&A have said.

The age limit for invitations was previously reduced from 65 to 60 in 2007.

The 152nd edition of the Open, the oldest golf championship in the world, will be held at Royal Troon in July.

"From 2024, players winning The Open will be exempt until the age of 55. All golfers currently exempt as past champions will be able to play in The Open until the age of 60," the R&A said in a statement.

Irish champions Darren Clarke (55) and Padraig Harrington (52) will both therefore still be eligible until they are 60.

There there has been no concession to LIV Golf however. With no world ranking points available to players on the Saudi breakaway tour, it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to qualify via that route, although as former major winners, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson already have places in the field for Royal Troon in July.

Other LIV golfers guaranteed spots without having to qualify are Tyrrell Hatton, Dean Burmester, Adrian Meronk, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen and David Puig.

As relations continue to thaw between the previously-warring parties as a result of a merger agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV, there had been suggestions the R&A could make allowances for LIV golfers, particularly after its chief executive Greg Norman wrote to players on Tuesday to say it would no longer be pursuing its long battle to secure world ranking points.

Other changes will see players competing on the Asian Tour, the Japan Golf Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Sunshine Tour able