The R&A made it official on Tuesday, announcing that qualifying LIV Golf players will be able to play in the 151st edition of The Open Championship this year at Royal Liverpool.
There has been a trend in this direction with the R&A saying for months that it does not see the Saudi-backed LIV Golf the way the PGA Tour does. R&A boss Martin Slumbers said banning LIV golfers «is not on our agenda».
So the likes of Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Dustin Johnson and last year’s Open winner Cam Smith will be able to play despite being on the LIV tour.
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Cameron Smith of Australia during a practice round prior to the LIV Golf Invitational — Boston at The Oaks Golf Course at The International on August 31, 2022, in Bolton, Massachusetts. (Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf/via Getty Images)
«We have created an exciting program of events that spans many regions of the world and gives golfers the chance to win a spot at The Open at Royal Liverpool,» R&A Champions Executive Director Johnnie Cole-Hamilton said, via ESPN. . .
«We are grateful to our colleagues on the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a coveted spot in this year’s championship.»
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The Open is one of the four major championships in the game of golf, and it is expected that all golfers will be able to play in it no matter what tour they play on.
The Masters, for example, will be the first major played this year, and Augusta National will welcome the best of the best in April. The PGA Championship will follow in May, and then the US Open will be played in June.
The Open is the last in the list of big four from July 20 to 23.
Dustin Johnson of the United States during the Pro-Am ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational at the Centurion Club on June 8, 2022, in St. Albans, England. (John Phillips/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
«I hope to see Cam Smith play around 9:40 am on the first day of The Open next year,» Slumbers said in October, via ESPN. «The Open needs to get away from what is happening [on] in terms of disagreements and making sure we stay true to our principle, which is to have the best players in the world competing.
«If you want a guide, go back to what I said in July. We are not going to ban anyone. We are not going to betray 150 years of history and have The Open not be open. The name says it all. And that is important. What we will do is to make sure that there are appropriate pathways and ways to qualify.”
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There could be some tense moments with all those players converging on Royal Liverpool for the last major of the year.
Jon Rahm, who just won the Genesis Invitational last week at the Riviera Country Club on the PGA Tour, admitted in January that he anticipates a «tense» masters champions dinner.
Phil Mickelson of the United States on the 14th hole before the LIV Golf Invitational at the Centurion Club on June 8, 2022, in St. Albans, England. (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf/Getty Images)
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LIV golfers continue to be barred from regular PGA Tour events.