FINAL qualifying for this year's Open Championship at Royal St George's at Sandwich takes place at four Kent courses on the Sunday and Monday prior to the main event.

Because the Open is such a prestigious competition, automatic entry is limited to previous winners, the top players from the last four or five years, winners of certain nominated tournaments and so on.

That means many big names will have to qualify, though not the superstars.

Final qualifying, which free to the public, is being staged on Sunday, July 13 and Monday, July 14, at North Foreland (Broadstairs), Littlestone, Prince's (Sandwich) and Royal Cinque Ports (Deal) and golf fans or general sports enthusiasts will be able to see numerous big names plus a few Kent pros in action as they bid to qualify.