LIV Golf, the multi-million dollar and controversial Saudi Super League, has received another boost from Grand Slam amid ongoing negotiations for an agreement with the traditional and higher-ranking circuits, the American (PGA Tour) and the European (DP World Tour).
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) has announced a new qualification route for LIV Golf players to obtain a place in the British, the fourth and final 'major' that this year will be played from 17 to 20 July at Royal Portrush (Northern Ireland).
Under the new R&A rule, the best player in the top-5 of the LIV Golf ranking who does not already have a place through another route when the Dallas tournament ends on 29 June will get a passport to the British. Currently, 12 players from the Saudi Super League have already secured their ticket to the British, including the Basque Jon Rahm, the No. 1 in 2024 and again a great figure of the 2025 LIV Golf season.
Liv Golf, situation
Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Marc Leishman, Tom McKibbin, Phil Mickelson, Joaqun Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen, Cameron Smith and Henrik Stenson are the other LIV golfers who will be at Royal Portrush.
The British thus becomes the second Grand Slam tournament that opens its doors so that any LIVplayer can compete through their ranking. Days ago, it was the United States Federation (USGA) that announced that the US Open (June 12-15) will give another place to the best top-3 in the LIV ranking without exemption from May 19.
There have been contacts for months to bring positions closer between LIVand the traditional circuits, but the reality is that time passes and an agreement has still not been announced. Be that as it may, these latest movements by the USGA and R&A favoring the access of golfers from the Saudi Super League are another sign that something is moving within the most important institutions of golf.
"We recognise that players competing in LIV Golf should also have the opportunity to secure places at the British through their individual season ranking, in addition to the existing pathways," R&A chief executive Mark Darbon said in a statement.
"We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and we look forward to seeing which golfers will take their place at Royal Portrush in July. The British is a world championship for the very best golfers and each year we review our exemptions to ensure we offer pathways based on results achieved on the major professional tours," added Darbon.
In addition, the Macau International Series has been named as one of the 15 Open Qualifying Series tournaments that provide the opportunity to obtain an exemption. The International Series is a set of 10 elite tournaments sanctioned by the Asian circuit that gives promotions to LIV.
