Changes to exemption categories have been instituted by The R&A for The Open, with no exceptions permitted for LIV Golf. Difficulty in qualifying has increased for players on the Saudi breakaway tour given no world ranking points are attainable. Yet, former Majors champions such as Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson still have spots solidified at the Royal Troon in July.
Other LIV golfers including Tyrrell Hatton, Dean Burmester, Adrian Meronk, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen and David Puig, are confirmed for the event without need for qualification. Despite thawing relations due to a merger agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV, suggestions that the R&A may grant allowances for LIV golfers didn’t occur. Notably, this comes after LIV’s CEO Greg Norman informed players that they would cease their quest to secure world ranking points.
Despite a changing landscape, Rahm, the current Masters champion, who switched to LIV in December and recently triumphed in major tournaments, voiced his discontent with the rankings. The Spaniard reiterated his previous scepticism about the ranking system, stating it was proving more flawed over time.
The R&A’s more significant modification has seen the exemption period for fresh champions brought down to 55 years, from 60 – a memorable age proven by Tom Watson, who almost bagged his sixth Claret Jug just before turning 60 at Turnberry in 2009. Other adaptations allow players from the Asian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Sunshine Tour to qualify through one of the top five slots on the International Federation Ranking list.
Following a new ruling, the African Amateur champion now also gets exemption, with this year’s slot going to South African Altin Van Der Merwe, following his victory at the inaugural event in the previous month.