USGA to mull potential LIV path into U.S. Open

PINEHURST, N.C. — The US Golf Affiliation will weigh within the offseason whether or not to create an exemption class that may make it simpler for LIV Golf League gamers to qualify for the U.S. Open, CEO Mike Whan mentioned Wednesday.

“We’ll discuss it this offseason, whether or not or not there must be a path to anyone, or somebodies, which are performing very well on LIV that may get an opportunity to play in that means,” Whan mentioned forward of the 124th U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Pinehurst No. 2.

“I feel we’re critical about that. Precisely what that appears like and the way that’ll curtail, I am not simply being coy, we have not performed that but.”

There are 12 LIV Golf League gamers within the discipline this week, together with previous U.S. Open champions Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Martin Kaymer.

Jon Rahm, winner of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, withdrew from the tournament Tuesday due to a left foot harm.

“There [are] no out-of-bounds stakes on our discipline standards,” Whan mentioned. “In different phrases, this main, most likely totally different than some others, you may get in. It isn’t a closed discipline. It does not require a committee or an invite. If you wish to play on this discipline, you’ve got bought a possibility to play on this discipline, and we’re pleased with that.”

Kaymer, who received the final U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, is within the remaining 12 months of his 10-year exemption within the occasion. Phil Mickelson, a six-time runner-up within the U.S. Open, can have only one 12 months left on his five-year exemption for successful the 2021 PGA Championship.

Three LIV Golf gamers — Dean Burmester, David Puig and Eugenio Chacarra — made the sector by means of remaining qualifying. Sergio Garcia, taking part in in his twenty fifth straight U.S. Open, was added as an alternate from remaining qualifying Monday.

Whan mentioned there have been 35 LIV Golf gamers who had been eligible to compete in remaining qualifying, however most elected to not try and make the sector.

“In the event that they actually wished to be right here, they may go play 36 holes and qualify. And a few did, to their credit score,” Whan mentioned.

Whan indicated {that a} potential pathway would not be “large.” The USGA has exemptions for the winner of the European BMW PGA Championship and the highest two finishers within the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings from the earlier season, in addition to the highest participant within the present standings on Could 20 who is not in any other case eligible.

There may be additionally one spot within the discipline for the factors chief from the earlier season on the Korn Ferry Tour.

In response to Whan, the USGA will wait to see if the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund attain some type of settlement earlier than making any choice about pathways for LIV Golf League gamers. The perimeters met in New York on Friday, and a deal in some capability could be imminent — though it appears it would not reunite the competing circuits quickly.

“We have at all times felt like for the final 12 months and a half that we’re at all times three months away from form of understanding what the brand new construction goes to appear to be,” Whan mentioned. “So earlier than we form of react, what’s LIV going to be? What is the PGA Tour? So we at all times form of felt like we’re nearly to know that reply, so let’s determine that out.

“Now, I feel the explanation we’re being extra vocal about taking a look at that for subsequent 12 months is possibly that is the brand new world order. And if that is the case, we wished to try that.”