Seven golfers from East Lancashire will be vying to earn one of 12 remaining places in this year’s staging of the biggest prize in world golf, The Open Championship.

Four professionals and three amateurs from the area will take to courses across the North on Monday, June 20, competing over 36 holes in The Open Regional Qualifying.

The top performers from these 15 events then progress to Final Qualifying, where the top 12 golfers earn a spot in The Open.

This year’s is the 150th staging of The Open, and is being held at the historic Home of Golf, the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

The biggest names in world golf, including Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods are set to compete on the old links to be named Champion Golfer of the Year.

American Collin Morikawa will be aiming to defend his title won at Royal St George’s last year, with The Open the final major championship up for grabs in 2022.

The Masters was won by world number one Scottie Scheffler in April, with Justin Thomas winning the PGA Championship in May.

The US Open is taking place this weekend, with the UK’s Rory McIlroy among the favourites.

On June 20, regional qualifying will take place at 15 golf courses across the British Isles professional golfers from across the world taking part, alongside some of the best amateur players in the country.

From East Lancashire, six will be making the relatively short trip to Fairhaven Golf Club in Lytham to compete, with one crossing the Pennines to compete at Alwoodley Golf Club in Leeds.

Sam Reeves, professional at Accrington Golf Club, will be hoping to come out on top when he takes on the challenging West Yorkshire course, rated as one of the best inland courses in the country.

At Fairhaven, Blackburn Golf Club’s Jordan Brown will be in action, alongside Longridge Golf Club’s Simon Lucas and Mark Young.

Amateurs Harry Lord (Rossendale Golf Club), Daniel Nutter (Clitheroe Golf Club), and Gordon Watson (Turton Golf Club) will also be in action on the West Coast.

Preston-based golf YouTuber Peter Finch will also be in action at Fairhaven, along with a whole host of players from across the rest of Lancashire, the UK and the world.

Other events are being held at Burhill in Surrey, Caldy on the Wirral, County Louth in Ireland, Frilford Heath in Oxfordshire, Goswick in Northumberland, Kedleston Park near Derby, Lindrick in Workshop, Minchinhampton in the Cotswolds, Moor Park near Watford, The Northamptonshire County, Panmure in Scotland, Rochester & Cobham Park in Kent, and The Buckinghamshire.

If they are successful in Monday’s events, they will then move onto Final Qualifying and be just 36 holes away from a place at The Open, and in the running for the chance to win the Claret Jug.

Final Qualifying takes place on Tuesday, June 28, at St Anne’s Old Links in St Anne’s, as well as at Prince’s Golf Club on the south coast, Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland, and Hollinwell Golf Club in Nottinghamshire.

The top three performers from each event will earn a place at the 150th Open next month.

Crowds are welcome to attend the events – with the nearest to East Lancashire being Fairhaven and St Anne’s Old Links.

The Open Championship begins at St Andrews on Thursday, July 14, with the Champion Golfer of the Year crowned on the 18th green on Sunday 17.