US OPEN Champion Retief Goosen is one of the exempt players in the entry of 2,236 for the Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes from July 19 to 22.

It is the second highest entry of all time behind St Andrews, last year, when the entry was 2,480.

Not only is the entry exceptional in number but it also includes all of the top 50 in the Official Golf World Rankings.

Goosen was already exempt before his win at Tulsa and is one of 95 players who could be joined in the field of 156 by a further 35 players who will go directly into the Championship. For the non-exempt entrants, the Championship started with regional qualifying at 16 courses on Monday, July 9, while final qualifying will be played at Fairhaven, Hillside, St Annes Old Links and Southport & Ainsdale on Sunday and Monday, July 15 and 16. The total field for final qualifying is 384, of which 124 players will come from regional qualifying.