A new pathway for players who compete in the LIV Golf league has been added to the British Open Championship, the R&A announced Monday.
Here are the details:
- Direct Exemption for LIV Golfers: Starting in 2025, the R&A has created a new exemption category specifically for LIV Golf players. The top-ranked player in the LIV Golf Individual Standings, who is not already exempt and is within the top five of the standings at the end of June, will be awarded a place in The Open Championship. This was announced for the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in July 2025.
- Other Exemptions: Before this specific exemption was introduced, LIV golfers could still compete in The Open if they met other existing exemption criteria, such as being a past champion, a major champion, or having qualified through other events and/or world rankings. For instance, past Open champions like Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Henrik Stenson, Cameron Smith, and Dustin Johnson, or major champs like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka were already exempt due to their past victories.
- Other Pathways: Players from LIV Golf could also qualify through the Open Qualifying Series, regional and final qualifying events, as well as their performance on other tours like the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Sunshine Tour via the International Federation Ranking list.
- R&A Quote: “The Open is a global championship for the best men’s golfers, and each year we review our exemptions to ensure that we offer pathways into the championship based on results achieved on the leading professional tours,” Mark Darbon, CEO of The R&A, said in a statement. “We acknowledge that players competing in LIV Golf should also have the opportunity to secure places in The Open through its individual season standings as well as existing pathways.”
- LIV Golf Quote: “We thank Mark Darbon for his leadership and the R&A for taking this step for the benefit of moving golf forward,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement. “The Open Championship is one of the most prestigious events in all of sports. The acknowledgement that competitors from the LIV Golf League and The International Series will have the opportunity to play in golf’s original major is a true testament to the strength of fields and the R&A’s commitment to golf fans around the world.”
This move by the R&A aligns with similar decisions by other major championships like the U.S. Open, which also announced exemptions for LIV golfers based on their standings in LIV Golf events. These exemptions indicate a broader acceptance of LIV Golf players in major tournaments.
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