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A16 SPORTS
Thursday 6 February 2025
LIV Golf players now have their own path to U.S. Open exemption

By DOUG FERGUSON 2024 at Valhalla it invited
AP Golf Writer Talor Gooch, who had
The U.S. Open became the won three times on LIV the
first major to publish a direct previous year. But the PGA
pathway for LIV Golf players, of America does not have
on Wednesday announcing specific criteria, lumping LIV
a new exemption category players and others into “spe-
that awards one spot to the cial invitations.” Niemann and
leading player from among Sergio Garcia already have
the top three at LIV’s halfway received PGA invitations this
point this year. year.
The next exemption category For this year’s U.S. Open, an
will include one spot this year exemption from qualifying will
from the May 19 standings be given “the top player who
in LIV. Starting with the 2026 is not otherwise exempt and
U.S. Open, the USGA will take in the top three” of the LIV
the leading player in the fi- individual standings as of
nal 2025 individual standings, May 19.
along with the leading player That could mean no one
from the May 18, 2026, list. gets that exemption if the
In each case, the exemption leading three are already eli-
goes to the leading player Bryson DeChambeau celebrates with fans and the trophy after winning the U.S. Open golf gible. Bryson DeChambeau,
not already exempt, and the tournament Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka,
player must be among the Associated Press Dustin Johnson, Richard
top three in the standings. the Saudi-backed LIV Golf of the last two years, though The PGA Championship has Bland, Phil Mickelson and
The other majors have not League. The Masters has in- Augusta National based that invited LIV players based on Cameron Smith are LIV play-
turned away players from vited Joaquin Niemann each on his international play. their world ranking, and for ers currently exempt.
“We’re pleased that the
USGA has formally created
a new exemption for LIV Golf
players to compete in the U.S.
Open and appreciate Mike
Whan’s leadership and com-
mitment to growing the game
of golf,” said Scott O’Neil, the
new CEO of LIV Golf.
“Every golf fan in the world
longs to see the greatest
players in the world compet-
ing on golf’s biggest stages at
the majors,” O’Neil said. “LIV
Golf is committed to work-
ing hand in hand with golf’s
governing bodies to elevate
the sport in all corners of the
world.”
The U.S. Open is June 12-15
at Oakmont Country Club in
the Pittsburgh suburbs.
“The USGA continues to eval-
uate the pathways that exist
to ensure those playing their
best have the opportunity
to compete in our national
championship,” said John
Bodenhamer, the USGA chief
championships officer.
“Consistent with our histori-
cal approach, we continu-
ously evaluate talent levels
on professional tours and in
amateur events, which has
led us to add a new exemp-
tion category.”
In addition to the new cat-
egory, the USGA will offer
exemptions from the first
stage of 18-hole qualifying
starting next year to the top
10 players on the LIV points
list on April 7, 2026. Five LIV
events will have been played
by then. q