US Open Becomes 1st Major to Offer Exemption to LIV Golfers

The United States Golf Association is opening the door for LIV players to earn an exemption into the U.S. Open starting in 2025.

Per an official USGA announcement, a full exemption will be awarded to the top-ranked player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top three of the LIV Golf individual standings as of May 19.

Local exemptions will be awarded to the top 10 players in the LIV individual standings as of April 7.

The 2026 U.S. Open will also offer full and local exemptions.

LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil praised the USGA for the move in a statement released on Wednesday.

The U.S. Open is the first of the four major tournaments to offer a direct pathway to participation for LIV players.

Qualifying for major tournaments has been more difficult for LIV golfers because LIV tournaments don't count toward the official world golf rankings because the OWGR denied an application for accreditation in October 2023.

"We are not at war with them," Peter Dawson, chairman of the OWGR board, told the Associated Press at the time. "This decision not to make them eligible is not political. It is entirely technical. LIV players are self-evidently good enough to be ranked. They're just not playing in a format where they can be ranked equitably with the other 24 tours and thousands of players trying to compete on them."

LIV continued its efforts to receive accreditation before CEO Greg Norman announced he was withdrawing the application in March 2024, noting the "OWGR has shown little willingness to productively work with us."

The PGA Tour doesn't allow LIV players to participate in sanctioned tournaments, but the majors are governed by their own separate organizations. Brooks Koepka became the first LIV player to win a major tournament at the 2023 PGA Championship.

Bryson DeChambeau joined Koepka in the winner circle last year when he held on to win the 2024 U.S. Open.

The 2025 U.S. Open will take place from June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.