Let’s address the LIV Golfers-majors situation, shall we? Can LIV players play in majors?
Fortunately for men in the Saudi-funded league, a healthy chunk of them have featured in the majors throughout each season since LIV Golf’s birth in 2022.
The players have somewhat had their avenues to the majors cut off given the PGA Tour suspended each defector, the DP World Tour suspended and fined each defector.
The DP World Tour have now reached a compromise with a handful of members. Laurie Canter, Thomas Detry, Tyrrell Hatton, Tom McKibbin, Adrian Meronk, Victor Perez, David Puig and Elvis Smylie have all settled their fines and been given conditional releases to play in LIV events in 2026.
Also, LIV Golf events have been given world ranking points for the first time this year. The top 10 finishers in LIV leaderboards earn ranking points, which will break down a significant barrier to the majors that previously existed. World ranking is often part of the criteria to get into men’s golf big four events.
Can LIV players play in majors?
None of the four major organisations has moved to block LIV players from competing. Any player can participate, as long as they meet the qualification criteria. In February 2025, the US Open became the first major to create a specific LIV Golf exemption category.
One player not already exempt in the top three of the LIV Golf individual standings by May 19 earned a spot at Oakmont for the third major of the year. And that player was Joaquin Niemann having won twice in 2025 and being top of the rankings after LIV Golf Korea, the last event before the May 19 cut-off.
The Open followed suit as on February 10, the R&A announced that the top player not otherwise exempt in the top five of the LIV Golf standings through the league’s Dallas event at the end of June would earn a spot at Portrush. Sergio Garcia became the first beneficiary of this pathway after finishing fifth in the standings after the LIV Dallas event.
