Past champions Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen and exempt players such as Dustin Johnson can rest easy about competing in next month’s British Open.
Martin Slumbers, chief executive of the R&A, confirmed that defectors to LIV Golf will have their exemptions honored at the 150th British Open to be contested at The Old Course at St. Andrews.
“The Open is golf’s original championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal,” Slumbers said in a media release. “Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for The 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the Championship at St Andrews. We are focused on staging a world class championship in July and celebrating this truly historic occasion for golf. We will invest the proceeds of The Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now.”
Slumbers and the R&A followed the lead of USGA chief executive Mike Whan in permitting LIV players to compete this year. During the USGA’s pre-U.S. Open press conference last week, Whan hinted that the exemption process could change in future years. Access to the majors and how LIV players will be able to earn World Ranking points to qualify for the four majors is considered a roadblock in LIV Golf’s expansion.
So far, only the PGA of America has suggested that players that no longer have PGA Tour membership would be ineligible for the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
The 150th Open will be played at St. Andrews, July 10-17. The leading two players who finish in the top eight and ties at the Kolon Korea Open who are not already exempt will earn places into the British Open field. The Kolon Korea Open is the eighth event in the British Open Qualifying Series and will be played at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club in Cheonan, June 23-26.
