The 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush has welcomed six additional players to its 156-man field, with recent PGA Tour winners Aldrich Potgieter and Brian Campbell headlining the group of alternates added based on this week’s Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The announcement, made Monday, July 7, 2025, fills the field for the final major of the year, set to take place July 17-20.
Potgieter, a 20-year-old South African, and Campbell, a 32-year-old American, earned their spots after impressive victories in the past two weeks. Potgieter, ranked No. 123 in the world before his win, captured the Rocket Classic in Detroit on June 29, outlasting Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk in a five-hole playoff for his first PGA Tour title.
Campbell, ranked No. 115 prior to his triumph, followed with a playoff victory over Emiliano Grillo at the John Deere Classic on Sunday, securing his second PGA Tour win of the season. Both players’ recent performances boosted their OWGR standings, placing them among the top six non-exempt players selected as alternates.
Joining Potgieter and Campbell are Nico Echavarria, Michael Kim, Bud Cauley, and Davis Thompson, who narrowly edged out Si Woo Kim for the final alternate spot. The Open Championship had initially projected only 150 players would qualify through standard exemptions, leaving room for alternates to complete the field. The R&A, which organizes the event, uses the current OWGR to determine these additions, rewarding players with recent strong performances.
Potgieter, the PGA Tour’s youngest player and longest hitter, averaging over 326 yards off the tee, brings a dynamic presence to Royal Portrush. His Rocket Classic win marked him as the youngest South African to claim a PGA Tour title, surpassing Garrick Higgo’s record.
Campbell, known for his precision as the Tour’s shortest hitter, adds a contrasting style, having now won twice in 2025, including the Mexico Open in February. Their inclusion underscores the Open’s commitment to showcasing rising stars alongside established names.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these talented players to Royal Portrush,” an R&A spokesperson said. “Their recent successes on the PGA Tour demonstrate the depth of talent in professional golf, and we look forward to seeing them compete in the Open.”
As Royal Portrush prepares to challenge the world’s best, the inclusion of these recent PGA Tour winners adds another layer of intrigue to one of the sport’s grandest stages.
