Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood will both try and qualify for The Open next year if they don’t make it automatically due to their LIV status.
The Englishmen finished three-under and seven-under respectively in the 150th Open at St Andrews. But they face an uncertain future in the Majors after going to the Saudi LIV Golf series, which doesn’t earn world ranking points.
It puts the stars at risk of not being automatically eligible for the next Open at Royal Liverpool in 2023. Poulter, 46, said: “The way the world ranking system is right now, there's uncertainty right there.
“We'll just have to see how things pan out, and we'll take it from there. There is no guarantee on the European Tour or PGA Tour that at 96th in the world, or wherever I am, that I'm going to get in The Open irrespective of wherever I'm playing golf.
“You're going to have to qualify which I've been there and done that before.”
Westwood, 49, added: “It's a big enough tournament that I would try and qualify for, sure. I'm 50 next April. All these Major championships and big events are a bonus really when you get to my age.”
Westwood birdied the last for a 69 after dropping two shots at the Road Hole on the 17th. He kept his emotions under control up the last despite it being potentially his final Open appearance.
Westwood added: “It's not really my thing to get misty-eyed, especially after making 6 at 17.”
Poulter dropped shots on 11 and 12 and then doubled bogeyed the 17th too. After walking up the 18th on potentially his final Open appearance, he added: “I didn't need any Kleenex.”
