R&A joins USGA in allowing LIV Golf players direct pathway into Open Championship
There is now a direct path for LIV Golf players to qualify for two of the year’s four major championships.
The R&A, which runs the Open Championship, announced Monday its exemption categories for the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush. A new category was introduced that allows LIV Golf players to earn a place in The Open. The leading player not already exempt in the top 5 of the 2025 Individual Season standings following the completion of LIV Golf Dallas will be awarded a place in The 153rd Open.
“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,” Mark Darbon, Chief Executive at The R&A, said in a release.
“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.”
Last week, the USGA announced a similar pathway for LIV Golf players to earn an exemption and qualify for the U.S. Open.
“We thank Mark Darbon for his leadership and the R&A for taking this step for the benefit of moving golf forward,” LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said in a release. “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.”
The Asian Tour’s International Series Macau will also provide direct access to the top-three finishers not otherwise qualified to the Open Championship. LIV Golf has a partnership with the Asian Tour, and more than 20 LIV Golf players competed in International Series Macau in 2024.
Here’s a look at the rest of the R&A’s exemption categories for the 2025 Open Championship:
Open Championship 2025 exemption categories
1. The Open champions aged 60 or under on July 20, 2025 (for all champions up until 2024)
2. The Open champions aged 55 or under on July 20, 2025 (for all champions from 2024)
3. The Open champions for 2014-2024
4. First 10 anyone tying for 10th place in The 152nd Open at Royal Troon in 2024
5. The first 50 players on the OWGR for Week 21, 2025
6. First 25 in the Final Race to Dubai Rankings for 2024
7. The BMW PGA Championship winners for 2022-24
8. First 5 DP World Tour members and any DP World Tour members tying for 5th place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings on completion of the 2025 BMW International
9. Masters Tournament champions for 2020-25
10. PGA Championship winners for 2019-25
11. The U.S. Open champions for 2020-25
12. Top 30 players from the Final 2024 FedEx Cup Points List
13. The Players champions for 2023-2025
14. First 5 PGA Tour members and any PGA Tour members tying for 5th place, not exempt in the top 20 of the PGA Tour FedExCup Points List for 2025 on completion of the 2025 Travelers Championship.
15. The first player and anyone tying for that place, not otherwise exempt, in the top 5 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Season standings on completion of LIV Golf Dallas.
16. The 2024 Olympic Men’s Golf Gold Medallist
17. The 118th VISA Open de Argentina 2025 Champion
18. The first 5 players on the 2025 Federations Ranking List as of closing date
19. The Japan Open champion for 2024
20. The Senior Open champion for 2024
21. The US Amateur champion for 2024
22. The Mark H McCormack Medal (Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking) winner for 2024
23. The Asia-Pacific Amateur champion 2024
24. The Latin America Amateur champion 2025
25. The Africa Amateur champion 2025
26. The Amateur champion for 2025
27. The European Amateur champion for 2025
28. The Open Amateur Series winner 2025
Exemptions 21-28 can only be taken up by players retaining their amateur status.
Open Qualifying Series
- OQS Australia – ISPS Handa Australian Open
- OQS New Zealand – New Zealand Open
- OQS South Africa – Investec South African Open
- OQS USA – Arnold Palmer Invitational
- OQS Macau – International Series Macau
- OQS Korea – KOLON Korea Open
- OQS Japan – Mizuno Open
- OQS USA – the Memorial Tournament
- OQS Canada – RBC Canadian Open
- OQS Italy – Italian Open
- OQS Scotland – Genesis Scottish Open
- Final Qualifying – Burnham & Berrow
- Final Qualifying – Dundonald Links
- Final Qualifying – Royal Cinque Ports
- Final Qualifying – West Lancashire
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