The R&A granted an exemption into the 152nd Open Championship for the African Amateur champion, as well as the top players from the 2023 money lists of the Asian, Australian, South African, and Japan tours. No exemptions, however, were given to the LIV Golf League, including 2023 money winner Talor Gooch and former Masters winners Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed.
Currently, there are 13 LIV Golf players exempt for The Open: Jon Rahm (2023 Masters), Cam Smith (2022 Open), Bryson DeChambeau (2020 U.S. Open), Dustin Johnson (2020 Masters), Brooks Koepka (2023 PGA), Phil Mickelson (2021 PGA), Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open), Andy Ogletree (Top of Asian Tour), Tyrrell Hatton (PGAT Top 30), Adrian Meronk (DPWT Top 30), Dean Bermester (Joburg Open winner – part of the Open Qualifying Series), and Joaquin Niemann (special invite – hottest player in world).
The R&A also granted New Zealand’s Michael Hendry with a medical exemption after sitting out most of last season due to a leukemia diagnosis.
For those not exempt, the only tickets to Royal Troon this summer would be via special invite (what the Open, Masters and PGA offered to Niemann); finish inside the top 3 at the Italian Open (part of the Open Qualifying Series); or by Open qualifying on July 2.