The field of 144 competitors included 136 professionals and eight amateurs, either exempt via different criteria or advancing from qualifying competitions.[7][8][9]
35 places became available to players not qualified under the exemption categories. The qualifying event in United States received 1/5 of the places available. The remaining places were proportionately divided by the number of players taking part in each of the four qualifying events in Wales.[12]
Exemption categories and exempt players
Each exemption category required players to have reached their 50th birthday on or before 27 July 2023.[a][b]
1. Former winners of The Senior Open aged 65 or under
15. The first 4 players, and those tying for 4th place, who are not otherwise exempt, in the top 30 of the current Legends Tour Order of Merit as of 24 July 2023
16. The first 4 players, and those tying for 4th place, who are not otherwise exempt, in the top 30 of the current Charles Schwab Cup money list as of 24 July 2023
17. The leading amateur in the 2022 Senior Open who completed 72 holes
The final round was played in strong winds and recurring rain. Scores were significantly higher than in previous rounds. Pádraig Harrington, who finished second the year before, birdied his 72nd hole to tie the lead with his playing partner Alex Čejka after regulation play. A playoff, to start at 7 p.m. local time, was necessary to decide the winner. Defending champion Darren Clarke finished tied 33rd, ten shots behind the leaders. The only amateur to make the cut, John Kemp, finished tied 14th.
Alex Čejka and Pádraig Harrington went to a sudden death playoff, the 11th playoff in the history of the championship, playing the par-5 18th hole until one of the two players had a lower score than the other. On the first playoff hole Čejka reached the green in two while Harrington's second shot went slightly over the green, from where he choose to putt. Both players two-putted for easy birdies. On the second playoff hole Čejka reached the green in two again. Harrington's second shot rolled a few yards past the green. He missed his chip shot, which did not reach the green. From their positions, both players two-putted, why Čejka won by a shot and captured his first Senior Open Championship and third senior major championship.[14]
^Hagfeldt, Tomas (26 July 2023). "Karlsson missar årets sista major" [Karlsson will miss the last major of the year]. Svensk Golf (in Swedish). Retrieved 26 July 2023.
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