In a move that has delighted LIV Golfers and left many PGA Tour players seething, the organizers of The Open Championship have officially announced that LIV players will now have a clear pathway into golf’s oldest Major.
After months of speculation and behind-the-scenes negotiations, officials have confirmed that the top five players from the LIV Golf standings after the Dallas tournament in June will be granted direct entry into The Open. It’s a landmark shift that throws the doors open for players who were previously shut out—unless they qualified through other exemptions.
For LIV Golf and its supporters, this is a huge victory. For the PGA Tour loyalists? Another bitter pill to swallow.
LIV Golf Finally Cracks the Majors—But Will More Follow?
The exclusion of LIV Golfers from the Majors has been one of the biggest points of contention since the Saudi-backed tour shook up the sport. While some players still found ways to qualify, the lack of a guaranteed pathway meant that many top-tier LIV stars were sidelined from the biggest events in golf.
That changes with this decision—at least for The Open.
It’s a watershed moment that raises bigger questions:
- Is this just the first step? Will the other three Majors follow suit?
- Does this legitimize LIV Golf in the eyes of the golf world?
- Will PGA Tour players push back against what they see as an unfair advantage?
Marc Leishman: “We’re on the Right Track”
Among the LIV players celebrating this breakthrough, Marc Leishman, an Australian veteran who has had strong showings at The Open, was especially vocal in his approval.
“We do want to play those majors, and I think it proves we are on the right track and are going to be around for a long time, that the majors are starting to recognize it,” Leishman said.
For Leishman and many others, this decision legitimizes LIV Golf’s place in the sport and proves that its players deserve a shot on the biggest stages.
LIV’s New CEO Sees a Global Future
Scott O’Neill, the newly appointed CEO of LIV Golf, also welcomed the decision as a step in the right direction. He made it clear that this is only the beginning of LIV’s push for Major recognition.
“We will continue with the same mission—to produce and sign quality golfers, making this league global, while aiming to be in every corner of the planet.”
LIV’s ambitions go beyond just The Open—they want full recognition across all four Majors. And this latest breakthrough puts pressure on The Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship to make similar accommodations.
PGA Tour Players Aren’t Happy—Will There Be Pushback?
While LIV Golfers are celebrating, PGA Tour stars are reportedly less than thrilled. Many have stood by the traditional circuit, enduring the grueling schedule, stricter qualification standards, and lower payouts while LIV players competed in a smaller field for massive sums of guaranteed money.
For them, allowing LIV’s top players to bypass traditional qualification routes for The Open feels like a double standard.
The tension between LIV and the PGA Tour has already resulted in one of the most divisive eras in golf history—and this latest decision is sure to fan the flames even further.
What’s Next?
With The Open now officially welcoming LIV players, all eyes are on the other Majors. Will they follow suit? Or will the battle lines remain drawn, keeping LIV players on the outside looking in?
One thing is certain—this war isn’t over yet.
