3. EXEMPTIONS

(A) FINAL QUALIFYING STAGE

The following players are exempt from the First and Second Stages and are automatically eligible to participate in the Final Stage:

a. The 111th - 145th Ranked European Tour Members (or Ranked European Challenge Tour Members) and those Affiliate Members within these positions in the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings as of the 27th October 2019 (following the conclusion of the Portugal Masters.

b. The 16th - 45th Ranked European Challenge Tour Members or Associate Members (1&2) and those Ranked Amateurs or Associate Members (3) finishing within these positions in the Final 2019 European Challenge Tour Rankings.

c. Players whose eligibility as a European Tour Race to Dubai Tournament Winner expired (or will expire) at the end of either one of the following Official Seasons: - 2018 or 2019.

d. The winner of the last played Qualifying School.

e. The winner of the 2018 European Challenge Tour Rankings.

f. European Tour Members in 75th position or above in the European Tour Career Money List on 21st August 2019.

g. The 5 leading entrants (not otherwise eligible above) on 21st August 2019 to a limit of 15th place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit provided that the relevant applicants had applied to enter the Qualifying School by 21st August 2019.

h. The leading 3 entrants (not otherwise eligible above) on 21st August 2019 to a limit of 15th place in the following Orders of Merit provided that the relevant applicants had applied to enter the Qualifying School by 21st August 2019:

PGA Tour of Australasia (Final 2018 Order of Merit)
The Japan Golf Tour
The Sunshine Tour (Final 2018/2019 Sunshine Tour Players List)

Note: Should an exempt player withdraw under the eligibility criteria set out in category g. or h. above after the closing date for the First Stage entries, he may be replaced by the next eligible player under that category (subject to the applicable limits as stated within the relevant category) but any such replacement must take place before the commencement of the Second Stage.

(B) SECOND QUALIFYING STAGE (72 holes scheduled)

The following players are exempt from the First Stage and are automatically eligible to participate in the Second Stage:

1. All European Tour Members in Categories 1 - 23 as at 21st August 2019.

2. The top 90 European Challenge Tour Ranked Members and Associate Members (1 & 2) and those Ranked Amateurs or Associate Members (3) ranked within these positions in the European Challenge Tour Rankings as of the 21st August 2019.

3. The top 90 European Challenge Tour Ranked Members or Associate Members (1 & 2) and those Ranked Amateurs or Associate Members (3) finishing within these positions in the Final 2019 European Challenge Tour Rankings.

4. Winners of the Qualifying School in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

5. Winners of the European Challenge Tour Rankings in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

6. Players whose eligibility as a European Tour Order of Merit Tournament Winner expired at the end of any of the following official seasons: - 2009 - 2017 (inclusive).

7. European Tour Members in positions 76-100 in the European Tour Career Money List on the 21st August 2019.

8. The leading player (i.e. ranked 1st) in each of the following Satellite Tour Final Orders of Merit for 2019, unless already exempt under category 11. below:
      • The PGA Europro Tour
      • Pro Golf Tour
      • The Nordic League
      • ALPS Tour

9. The leading 6th to 15th placed entrants (not otherwise eligible above) to a limit of 25th place from the Asian Tour Order of Merit as at 21st August 2019, provided that the relevant applicants have applied to enter the First Stage by the 21st August 2019.

10. The leading 4th – 10th placed entrants (not otherwise eligible above) as at 21st August 2019 to a limit of 25th place in the following Orders of Merit provided that the relevant applicants have applied to enter the First Stage by 21st August 2019:
      • PGA Tour of Australasia (Final 2018 Order of Merit)
      • The Japan Golf Tour
      • The Sunshine Tour (Final 2018/2019 Sunshine Tour Players List)

11. The leading 6 entrants as at 21st August 2019 to a limit of 10th place in the following Satellite Tour Orders of Merit provided that the relevant applicants have applied to enter the First Stage by 21st August 2019:
      • The PGA Europro Tour
      • Pro Golf Tour
      • The Nordic League
      • ALPS Tour

12. The leading 3 entrants as at 21st August 2019 to a limit of 10th place in the following Orders of Merit provided that the relevant applicants have applied to enter the First Stage by 21st August 2019:
      • China Tour
      • Korean Tour

13. The leading 5 entrants as at 21st August 2019 to a limit of 15th place in the World Amateur Golf Ranking provided that the relevant applicants have applied to enter the First Stage by 21st August 2019.

Note: Under the eligibility criteria set out in categories 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 above, should an exempt player withdraw after the closing date for the First Stage entries, he may be replaced by the next eligible player under that category (subject to the applicable limits as stated above) but any such replacement must take place before the commencement of the Second Stage.