R&A confirms LIV golfers can play 150th Open

Between the defecting players, fines, bans and suspensions, it’s hard to keep up with what is fast-becoming a golfing soap opera of epic proportions.

In the past week alone we’ve seen Brooks Koepka, Abraham Ancer, Carlos Ortiz, Matthew Wolff and the No. 2-ranked amateur in the world, Eugenio Chacarra, make the move to LIV Golf.

Martin Slumbers (Credit: R&A)

However, it seems cooler heads have prevailed at the R&A – at least for now – with Martin Slumbers announcing that everyone is welcome at next months’s 150th Open Championship 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,” said Slumbers.

“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,” added Slumbers in a clear dig at LIV Golf.

This might be the last we see of the LIV players at the Open Championship though. The USGA’s Mike Whan also permitted the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen at the US Open, however, he made it clear in a press conference that entry criteria will change before next year’s event and that seems likely to happen right across the board for all four men’s majors.

However, if more and more players choose LIV Golf over the PGA Tour, the world’s golfing bodies may be forced to rethink the rules if they want the best of the best competing against each other at major tournaments.