[PHOTO: Sean M. Haffey]
The United States Golf Association is the first governing body to provide players from the LIV Golf League a direct pathway into a men’s major championship.
Because LIV’s competitive make-up failed to qualify the league for Official World Golf Ranking points, many LIV players who haven’t won majors and previously used the OWGR exemptions to get into the elite fields have seen their pathways to the sport’s four biggest tournaments diminish. However, the USGA announced overnight (Australian time) that beginning this year, members of the Saudi-backed league will earn an exemption into US Open. For this year’s championship at Oakmont Country Club, a spot will be awarded to the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top three of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19. Additionally, exemptions into Final Qualifying will be awarded to the top 10 players from the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of April 7.
In a sense this isn’t a surprise. While USGA leadership has privately bristled at the emergence of LIV – USGA chief executive Mike Whan said “I’m struggling with how this is good for the game” the week after LIV’s launch in 2022 – Whan has publicly maintained the importance of the US Open remaining “open” to all competitors. This position has only strengthened after the PGA Tour’s surprise framework agreement with LIV’s financial backer, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia.
The development also comes a year after a LIV member, Bryson DeChambeau, won the US Open at Pinehurst No.2.
“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer in a statement. “Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category.”
Augusta National and the PGA of America have awarded special invitations to LIV members into the Masters and PGA Championship, respectively. However, those have been on a case-by-case basis. The USGA and R&A, which oversees the Open Championship, also have no prohibited LIV golfers trying to earn spots in their majors through the standard open qualifying process at each championship.
The 2025 US Open begins on June 12.
