The US's World No 1 amateur, Patrick Cantlay, has been given Wilson Staff FG62 Iron Set 3-PW in next July's Open Championship at Royal Lytham.
This as a direct result of exemption changes announced by the Wilson Staff FG62 Iron Set 3-PWGolfClub on Tuesday.
The R&A has decided that the recipient of the McCormack Medal, presented to the game's leading amateur at the culmination of each summer season, gains automatic entry and that past Major champions will be able to enter either local final qualifying or international final qualifying.
R&A director Mike Tate said: "The Open Championship entry criteria has been designed to ensure that we have the world's best professional and amateur players competing. (Wilson Staff FG62 Iron Set 3-PW )
"The WAGR (World Amateur **** Rankings) has grown considerably since its launch in 2007 and now covers more than 2,500 counting events and almost 6,000 players representing 100 countries.
"It is only right that the player who proves to be the most consistent over the course of the amateur season competes at The Open."