US Open becomes first major to award LIV Golf exemption

The US Open volition go the archetypal large to supply players connected the LIV Golf circuit with an exemption for the tourney based connected rankings.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) said the apical subordinate from the Saudi Arabia-backed tour, who is not different exempt, volition straight gain a spot successful the tract for the US Open.

Additionally, the apical 10 players successful the LIV Golf standings connected 7 April volition besides beryllium exempt from section qualifying and alternatively spell consecutive into the last 36-hole qualifying.

The 2025 US Open volition beryllium held astatine the Oakmont Country Club successful Pennsylvania from 12-15 June.

LIV Golf main enforcement Scott O'Neil said: "Every play instrumentality successful the satellite longs to spot the top players successful the satellite competing connected golf's biggest stages astatine the majors.

"LIV Golf is committed to moving manus successful manus with golf's governing bodies to elevate the athletics successful each corners of the world."

USGA main championships serviceman John Bodenhamer added: "Consistent with our humanities approach, we continuously measure endowment levels connected nonrecreational tours and successful amateur events, which has led america to adhd a caller exemption category."

To date, nary of the different majors person offered a nonstop exemption tied to the LIV Golf points system.

The US Masters and the PGA Championship person awarded peculiar exemptions to LIV golfer Joaquin Niemann. Sergio Garcia besides received an invitation for the PGA Championship.

Niemann and Garcia finished 2nd and third, respectively, successful the 2024 LIV Golf idiosyncratic standings down Jon Rahm.

Rahm already has an exemption for each of this year's majors based connected his victories astatine the 2021 US Open and 2023 Masters.

LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau won the 2024 US Open and is exempt, on with Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, based connected past championships.

The PGA Tour has been successful protracted negotiations with LIV's backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), successful an effort to heal the divided successful satellite golf.