Qualifying LIV Golf members will be allowed to compete in the 151st edition of The Open this summer at Royal Liverpool, the R&A has announced.
Some of the more notable LIV golfers exempt into the July tournament include past Open champions Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and reigning winner Cameron Smith of Australia.
Also available to participate are Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau - who finished in the top at 10 at St Andrews last year - as well as former major winners Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, among others. "We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in the Open at Royal Liverpool," executive director of champions at the R&A Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, said. "We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year." The announcement is on par with what R&A chief Martin Slumbers said in July that banning LIV players was "not on our agenda".
He doubled down on that message in October. "We'll go public in January/February with what we are going to do with regard to LIV golfers," Slumbers told Golf Digest. "But if you want a guide, go back to what I said in July.