ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The British Open has now mirrored the U.S. Open by providing a direct opportunity for athletes from the controversial LIV Golf series to enter this year’s prestigious championship. According to the R&A, the player who ranks highest in LIV’s individual standings and is not already exempt—specifically the leading player in the top five—will earn a coveted spot in the competition scheduled for Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland next month, following LIV’s tournament in Dallas at the end of June.
This shift in policy comes as part of an annual evaluation of the Open’s exemptions, aimed at creating entry routes into the Championship based on performance across prominent professional tours, as expressed by R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. Just last week, the U.S. Open declared they would grant one place to the top player from the leading three at LIV’s mid-season standings this year.
Darbon emphasized the R&A’s recognition that players within the LIV Golf framework should have chances to qualify for the Open, both through individual season rankings and established qualification methods. He stated, “We are proud to offer a wide range of opportunities to qualify globally and look forward to seeing which golfers will emerge to take their place at Royal Portrush in July.”
LIV Golf’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, commended the R&A’s decision, viewing it as evidence of the competitive quality within the series and the R&A’s dedication to golf enthusiasts worldwide. He added, “LIV will continue our mission to bring the best players to the four corners of the world to grow the game. We are excited for the future of this great sport.”
In addition, the R&A will incorporate an event from the Asian Tour International Series in Macau into its Open Qualifying Series, which will afford spots for the top performers. It’s notable that LIV provides financial support for the International Series, and many LIV competitors routinely participate in these events.
In 2022, the R&A removed a qualification opportunity for the Asian Tour’s leading money winner, around the time LIV began its involvement in the tour. For the two years prior, standard Asian Tour competitions had been included in the Open Qualifying Series. Currently, the LIV circuit has a total of 12 players who are either exempt or have qualified for the July 17-20 event at Portrush, including prominent figures like Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, and Cameron Smith.
LIV commenced its fourth season last week at the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, where Adrian Meronk secured victory, and the tour is headed to Australia shortly. The complete schedule for 2025 features 14 events in total, indicating LIV’s ongoing growth and expansion within the global golf landscape.
