Eight Japanese players, including 2019 Women's British Open winner Hinako Shibuno, were given exemptions for the postponed U.S. Women's Open to be played in December.

On Wednesday, the United States Golf Association finalized its exemption categories for the Dec. 10-13 event at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

The tournament was originally scheduled for June 4-7 but was pushed back due to the spread of the coronavirus.

(Hinako Shibuno of Japan smiles on the 8th green during the first round of the Earth Mondahmin Cup at the Camellia Hills Country Club on June 25, 2020)[Getty/Kyodo]

Related coverage:

Golf: Japan's women's tour opens after 4-month coronavirus shutdown

Golf: Matsuyama, Ishikawa tee-up support for coronavirus battle

Okinawa golfers chip in 2.5 mil. yen toward Shuri Castle restoration


The association said that there will be no qualifying process due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, so players were only awarded a starting slot if they meet one of the exemption criteria.

With no international qualifying, spots have been reserved for players who finished among the money list leaders on the Ladies European Tour, Japan LPGA, Korea LPGA and China LPGA.

The other Japanese to be awarded a place are Mamiko Higa, Nasa Hataoka, Ai Suzuki, Mone Inami, Yui Kawamoto, Momoko Ueda and Minami Katsu.

The LPGA Tour is scheduled to restart on July 31, after a more than five-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.