For the primary time ever, there’s a formal pathway for a participant to qualify into a significant based mostly on efficiency in LIV occasions.
It’s a small but significant step.
As much as one LIV participant will earn their method into the U.S. Open based mostly on the LIV standings this season. To qualify, the participant have to be within the high three of the standings as of Might 19, 2025.
If the highest three guys are already within the U.S. Open, no one will get the exemption.
So, let’s say the highest three is Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson. These gamers are already within the U.S. Open based mostly on earlier main efficiency. In that case, there received’t be any exemption given.
However final yr, the highest three LIV gamers by mid-Might have been Joaquin Niemann, Rahm and Dean Burmester. In that case, Niemann would have been given an exemption into the U.S. Open—it was the one main he didn’t play final yr as a result of two of the others (Masters and PGA Championship) gave him particular exemptions and he certified into the opposite (Open Championship) based mostly on ends in the Australian Open. (Niemann has already been given exemptions into the Masters and PGA Championship for 2025).
There’s a excessive probability that at the very least one LIV participant within the high three of the standings received’t be already exempt into the U.S. Open. By my rely, there are solely seven LIV gamers at present within the U.S. Open: DeChambeau, Rahm, Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith and Richard Bland.
The opposite three majors are all set to have at the very least 11 LIV gamers in every area.
Along with the one potential exemption, the USGA can also be serving to the highest 10 LIV gamers within the league standings by permitting them immediately into remaining qualifying for the U.S. Open. This simply means they don’t must undergo the native qualifying, an arduous step previous to the following stage.
This might give gamers incentive to qualify the arduous method. Some LIV gamers selected to not strive U.S. Open qualifying in earlier years.
It is a sensible transfer by the USGA
When you bear in mind again in 2022 and 2023, there was lots of discuss in regards to the majors having the luxurious of ignoring LIV as a result of their qualification standards centered across the Official World Golf Rating.
With LIV never earning OWGR points, the desk was set for the majors to let their qualification system do the speaking. The most effective LIV gamers have been already exempt based mostly on earlier main victories. Middle-of-the-road guys like Talor Gooch—gamers who didn’t actually want to be in main fields—would naturally fall out of place to qualify based mostly on their rating.
However as time went on, the Masters and PGA Championship—who lack open qualifying—turned extra aggressive with including particular exemptions for LIV gamers who have been competing at a excessive degree in each LIV and non-LIV occasions.
Niemann is the very best instance. It is a participant who’s No. 14 in Information Golf however solely No. 68 within the OWGR. He is likely one of the finest golfers on the planet and has gone exterior of the LIV ecosystem to show that. He has not received a significant and even performed effectively in majors, however he’s a younger participant worthy of competing in majors given his current accomplishments.
If the purpose of majors is to have the very best gamers on the planet, Niemann must be in all of them.
Your subsequent query is what number of LIV guys fall into the Niemann class.
Only a few. Perhaps none relying in your definition.
Sergio Garcia is No. 39 in Information Golf and No. 471 within the OWGR. Louis Oosthuizen? Abraham Ancer? They’re realistically high 60 gamers on the planet with out an correct OWGR to replicate that.
For this reason I just like the U.S. Open’s transfer right here. It most likely will get a man like Niemann or at the very least one high 60 participant on the planet into their main, nevertheless it doesn’t push a lot past that line. I don’t suppose the USGA must for the time being.
Even this small step says lots about how golf has modified up to now couple of years.
LIV is a going to be right here long-term and there are going to be some good gamers popping out of the league who should be in majors. These majors are, after all, not run by the PGA Tour. Their goal must be to host the very best competitions.
“I’ve informed LIV folks that once we announce a pathway (into the U.S. Open), you will discover it completely insufficient relative to the dimensions,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said on the No Laying Up podcast. “Each tour finds their pathway into the U.S. Open insufficient. And that’s honest. However we additionally keep in mind that half our area is huge open (via open qualifying), so you actually need to be in, we don’t block a bunch of individuals out of it.”
The USGA doing this opens the door for extra collaboration between the majors and LIV transferring ahead.
And, prefer it or not, the LIV stigma of being exhibition golf might erode barely if the majors put extra formal qualifying buildings in place that reward good efficiency in LIV occasions.
Don’t get me unsuitable—the scenario is slimy as a result of LIV is a (virtually fully) closed circuit based mostly on invites. When you begin saying the highest 10 LIV guys within the standings (out of 54 gamers) get into the majors, then that feels inherently unfair. These gamers didn’t earn their method on LIV. Their competitors in LIV occasions is lots lower than on Tour.
What if a guy like Anthony Kim has one good week and abruptly he’s within the U.S. Open? That doesn’t really feel proper.
Over time, the majors will work out the very best combine.
However ought to there be extra formal pathways given the place we at the moment are in a professional golf world?
Completely. I don’t suppose there may be any query at this level. It’s higher for the majors and higher for professional golf as an entire.
High Photograph Caption: Joaquin Niemann might be the beneficiary of a brand new USGA rule. (GETTY IMAGES/Sarah Reed)
The publish USGA Makes Sensible Move By Creating LIV Qualifying Pathway appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
