LIV golfers face more major misery at The Masters and The Open

10/26/2023 Golf

LIV golfers face more major misery with The Masters and The Open currently ignoring calls to create exemptions for rebel players: ‘We do not anticipate making any changes’

  • Augusta chief Fred Ridley doesn’t anticipate The Masters changing entry criteria
  • R&A’s Martin Slumbers said it was too early to discuss 2024 Open qualification 
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news

Organizers for the Masters and Open Championship on Thursday dismissed the notion that they would create automatic major exemptions for LIV golfers next year.

Traditionally, The Masters invites the top 50-ranked players as well as past champions, PGA Tour winners and high finishers from other majors. 

‘While we do not at this time anticipate making any changes in 2024, we do always look at them and we will continue to do that,’ Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said. 

‘Our qualification criteria are very much dynamic, and we adjust to what we feel is in the best interests of the tournament representing the best players in the world, so we always look at that.’

Someone suggested to Ridley that it would be a ‘shame’ if a player such as LIV Golf’s individual season-long points winner Talor Gooch wasn’t able to compete in the Masters. 

Many players on the breakaway LIV Golf tour are set to miss out on the Masters once more

Augusta chairman Fred Ridley (L) doesn’t foresee the club changing its entry criteria for 2024

He offered the following response: ‘They made decisions based on what they thought was in the best interests of their golf careers, and we certainly respect that.’

Last April, 18 LIV Golf members competed in the Masters, including past champions Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel, Sergio Garcia and Bubba Watson, who have lifetime exemptions.

Brooks Koepka and Mickelson finished in a tie for second place, four shots behind winner Jon Rahm of Spain.

As it stands, those past champions as well as Cameron Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Koepka are the only LIV Golf players eligible for the 2024 field. 

Talor Gooch, LIV’s individual season-long points winner, isn’t currently eligible for any major 

R&A chief executive officer Martin Slumbers said Thursday that it was premature to discuss the qualification criteria for The Open in 2024.

‘There has been some speculation in the media recently, and I would say that it is completely off the mark,’ Slumbers said. 

‘I would like to make it very clear that exemptions for The Open, we do not discuss them with anyone, nor would we at any point in time.

‘I think it’s very important that we don’t lose sight of the fact that The Open is intended to be open to everybody, but you earn your place in the field and through exemptions, and that won’t change.’

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