US Open Announces LIV Golf Exemption for 2025 Tournament
In a historic move, the US Open has become the first major tournament to offer players from the LIV Golf series an exemption based on rankings. The United States Golf Association (USGA) revealed that the top player from the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, who isn't already exempt, will secure a direct spot in the US Open field.
Moreover, the top 10 players in the LIV Golf standings, as of April 7, will bypass local qualifying and instead advance to the final 36-hole qualifying round.
The 2025 US Open will take place at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania from June 12 to 15.
Scott O'Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, commented, "Every golf fan wants to see the best players compete on golf's grandest stages at the majors. LIV Golf is committed to working alongside golf's governing bodies to elevate the sport globally."
John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer, explained, "True to our tradition, we continuously assess the talent on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to introduce this new exemption category."
So far, no other major tournaments have granted a direct exemption tied to the LIV Golf points system.
While the US Masters and the PGA Championship have extended special exemptions to LIV golfers like Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia, neither tournament has implemented LIV ranking-based exemptions.
Niemann and Garcia, who finished second and third, respectively, in the 2024 LIV standings behind Jon Rahm, have received special invitations for these majors. Rahm, already exempt for all of this year's majors due to his past victories, remains a prominent figure in the field.
Other LIV players, including Bryson DeChambeau, who won the 2024 US Open, and champions like Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson, are also exempt based on their past major wins.
Meanwhile, the PGA Tour is engaged in ongoing discussions with LIV's backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), to resolve the ongoing rift in professional golf.