After the remarkable performances recently of “older” past champions, the age rules for the British Open have been changed. The rules change guarantees that Tom Watson, who finished runner-up this year, will be exempt for the next five years. It also ensure we will see more of Greg Norman, who tied for third in 2008.
Today the Royal & Ancient, which governs golf outside of the United States, announced that former champions with a top ten finish will receive a five year exemption. Prior to the rules change, Watson’s exemption as a past champion would have expired this year when he turned 60 years old.
”We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open champions, both in their 50s, challenging to win our championship these last two years,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said. ”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.”
Unlike the defacement of the road hole, this is something Dawson has gotten right. Actually, if it were up to me, past champions would have a lifetime exemption to come back and play the British Open. But this will do, and I can’t wait to see Tom Watson come back next year and try to recapture the magic again!