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Sunday, February 23, 2025

The Open Championship Grants Entry Slots to LIV Golfers for the First Time

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Munhwa Ilbo
Newsis

The Open Championship has officially opened its doors to LIV Golf players.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club (R&A) announced on Tuesday that new qualification rules will be implemented this year to allocate Open Championship entry slots for LIV golfers. According to the revised regulations, players who rank within the top five in season points by the Dallas tournament in June but do not yet have an Open Championship entry will be granted a spot.

Mark Darbon, CEO of the R&A, explained the decision, stating, “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. 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.”

Currently, 12 LIV golfers have secured entry into this year’s Open Championship, including Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Jon Rahm (Spain), Tyrrell Hatton (England), and Joaquín Niemann (Chile). Additional entry slots will be awarded to players who perform exceptionally well in the early season. However, if the 12 pre-qualified players already occupy all five designated ranking slots, no further LIV players will be added.

With this decision, LIV Golf has largely overcome its disadvantage as a latecomer in the professional golf scene. Following the Masters and PGA Championship, which had already extended invitations to LIV golfers, both the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A have now opened their doors to LIV players. This decision carries even greater significance as the USGA and the R&A are the two governing bodies that oversee global golf regulations.

Now officially recognized by all four major championships, LIV Golf faces only one remaining challenge: securing world ranking points. Currently, LIV tournaments do not award official world ranking points. As a result, LIV golfers have been competing in DP World Tour and Asian Tour events to earn ranking points necessary for major championship qualification.

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