R&A touch upon The Open exemptions for LIV has media ‘off the mark’4 min read

Rumors surfaced final weekend that LIV Golf and the R&A have been in dialogue for potential exemptions for LIV golfers to play in The Open. Amid that information, R&A chief govt Martin Slumbers commented on these rumors forward of the Asia-Pacific Beginner Championship at Royal Melbourne on Thursday.

That left many media shops to conclude Slumbers shut down these reviews. However clearly, they didn’t learn between the traces.

“There was some hypothesis within the media not too long ago, and I’d say that it’s fully off the mark,” Slumbers stated. “I wish to make it very clear that exemptions for The Open, we don’t talk about them with anybody, nor would we at any cut-off date.”

“I believe it’s essential that we don’t lose sight of the truth that The Open is meant to be open to everyone, however you earn your house within the area and thru exemptions, and that received’t change.”

Photograph by Stephen Pond/Getty Photographs

Slumbers doesn’t particularly deny something. It definitely seems there’s a particular risk of exemptions for members of the LIV Golf tour, amongst others.

“There are many alternatives for any participant on this planet who thinks they’re ok to have an opportunity to qualify and play in The Open Championship, no matter which tour they’re taking part on, and that won’t change,” Slumbers stated.

However as he stated, whether or not that’s going to be the case or not, he wouldn’t announce it publicly till subsequent yr on the earliest.

This isn’t the primary time Slumbers and LIV Golf have been linked.

Slumbers performed a spherical with the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) Yasir Al-Rumayyan on the Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship and invited him to the Open earlier this summer time.

Curiously, Slumbers is on the board that not too long ago voted and unanimously denied LIV Golf OWGR factors.

Then this week, the Saudi-backed tour additionally acquired information that their gamers have been prohibited from 2024 President Cup {qualifications}.

LIV chief working officer Gary Davidson propositioned that as many as 12 gamers from their end-of-season factors checklist may very well be included in The Open.

Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson are two of the largest proponents of that concept.

The governing our bodies overview their qualification standards yearly and can launch these in early 2024.

Photograph by David Cannon/Getty Photographs

On no account does the R&A chief govt counsel he’ll deny LIV Golf’s request as a result of they aren’t targeted on 2024 {qualifications} but. With the Open being the ultimate main of the yr, the R&A often doesn’t rush to submit their eligibility necessities.

The way in which {qualifications} have it now, solely 5 LIV gamers are exempted into all 4 majors subsequent yr. Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith, DeChambeau and Mickelson have all not too long ago received majors, incomes them exemptions.

Talor Gooch, who received the person title for LIV Golf this yr isn’t eligible to play in any majors in 2024. He ranks No. 214 on the present OWGR rankings regardless of profitable 3 times on the LIV tour this yr.

Do you imagine extra LIV gamers ought to be allowed to play in majors? Is the objective to have the very best gamers on this planet on the largest occasions, or did they sacrifice that honor by becoming a member of LIV? Tell us your ideas within the feedback under.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You’ll be able to observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.