The U.S. Open became the first major championship tournament to publish a direct pathway for LIV Golf League players, announcing Wednesday a new exemption category that awards one spot to the leading player from among the top three in the standings halfway through this year’s schedule for the Saudi-funded circuit.
The next exemption category will include one spot this year from the May 19 standings in LIV. Starting with the 2026 U.S. Open, the United States Golf Association will take the leading player in the final individual standings for 2025, along with the leading player as of May 18, 2026.
In each case, the exemption goes to the leading player not already exempt, and the player must be among the top three in the standings.
The other three major championship tournaments for men’s golf have not turned away players from the LIV Golf League. The Masters has invited Joaquin Niemann each of the past two years, though Augusta National based that on the Chilean player’s international competition outside of LIV.
The PGA Championship has invited LIV players based on their Official World Golf Ranking, and last year that major — which is run by the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour — invited Talor Gooch, who won three LIV events in 2023. The PGA of America does not have specific criteria, though, lumping LIV players and others into “special invitations.” Niemann and Sergio Garcia, a former Masters winner, already have received invitations to this year’s PGA Championship.
For this year’s U.S. Open, an exemption from qualifying will be given “the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top three” of the LIV individual standings as of May 19.
That could mean no one gets that exemption if the leading three are already eligible. Richard Bland, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are LIV players currently exempt.
“We’re pleased that the USGA has formally created a new exemption for LIV Golf players to compete in the U.S. Open and appreciate Mike Whan’s leadership and commitment to growing the game of golf,” Scott O’Neil, the new CEO of LIV Golf, said of the PGA of America’s CEO.
“Every golf fan in the world longs to see the greatest players in the world competing on golf’s biggest stages at the majors,” O’Neil said. “LIV Golf is committed to working hand in hand with golf’s governing bodies to elevate the sport in all corners of the world.”
This year’s U.S. Open is June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in the Pittsburgh suburbs.
“The USGA continues to evaluate the pathways that exist to ensure those playing their best have the opportunity to compete in our national championship,” said John Bodenhamer, the chief championships officer for the USGA. “Consistent with our historical approach, we continuously evaluate talent levels on professional tours and in amateur events, which has led us to add a new exemption category.”
In addition to the new category, the USGA will offer exemptions from the first stage of 18-hole qualifying starting next year to the top 10 players on the LIV points list on April 7, 2026. Five LIV events will have been played by then.
LIV begins its fourth season Thursday under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, equipped with its first network deal with Fox Sports. It also has events scheduled for Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Miami and South Korea before the U.S. Open exemption deadline.
Players from LIV always have been able to go through qualifying for the U.S. Open — four made it through qualifying last year — but having a set target within their main tour could be seen as a boost, particularly to young players who have no status on established tours.
Among the young players who joined LIV this year are Frederik Kjettrup of Denmark, Luis Masaveu of Spain, Tom McKibbin of Northern Ireland, and Yubin Jang of South Korea.