The Open

LIV Golf secures new Open Championship pathway  

ByNews Desk

As LIV Golf League players transition from their season-opening event in Saudi Arabia to their second start of 2025 in Australia, they have received a significant boost with a new pathway into The Open Championship, courtesy of the R&A.

On Monday, the R&A announced its updated list of exempt categories for the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush (July 17-20), including a notable addition: the top-ranked player in the LIV Golf individual standings, not otherwise exempt, will earn a spot in The Open following LIV’s Dallas event (June 27-29).

This move follows a similar exemption granted by the USGA last week, offering a U.S. Open berth to the highest-ranked LIV player among the top three in the individual standings. While these exemptions may apply to only a handful of LIV players, they carry significant symbolic weight, lending further legitimacy to the breakaway league.

“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,” said Mark Darbon, R&A chief executive, in a statement. “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. We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and look forward to seeing which golfers will emerge to take their place at Royal Portrush in July.”

The R&A also confirmed 12 LIV players who have already earned exemptions into The Open:

Bryson DeChambeau
Tyrrell Hatton
Dustin Johnson
Brooks Koepka
Marc Leishman
Tom McKibbin
Phil Mickelson
Joaquín Niemann
Louis Oosthuizen
Jon Rahm
Cameron Smith
Henrik Stenson
Shortly after the announcement, LIV Golf League CEO Scott O’Neil issued a statement, praising the R&A’s decision:

“We thank Mark Darbon for his leadership and the R&A for taking this step for the benefit of moving golf forward. The Open Championship is one of the most prestigious events in all of sports. The acknowledgment that competitors from the LIV Golf League and The International Series will have the opportunity to play in golf’s original major is a true testament to the strength of fields and the R&A’s commitment to golf fans around the world. LIV will continue our mission to bring the best players to the four corners of the world to grow the game. We are excited for the future of this great sport.”

While The Masters and the PGA Championship have yet to introduce LIV-specific qualifying categories, both Augusta National and the PGA of America have extended invitations to LIV players in recent years. Joaquín Niemann has received an invite to play at Augusta in April, just as he did in 2024, while the PGA of America has extended invitations to LIV players for Valhalla (2024) and Quail Hollow (2025)—including reported invites for Niemann and Sergio García.

As LIV Golf continues to push for further inclusion in golf’s majors, these latest exemptions represent another step toward integrating its players into the sport’s most prestigious events.

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