The United States Golf Association has become the first major championship to offer a specific exemption for a LIV Golf player.
In announcing the 2025 US Open exemption criteria, the governing body, which administers the third men's major of the year, announced that they are offering "a full exemption will be awarded to the top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 19, 2025."
That would mark the midway point of the 2025 LIV Golf season, with the standings after LIV Golf Korea being the deciding point for that exemption.
In the 2024 LIV Golf season, the cutoff would have been after LIV Golf Singapore. At that point, the top three players in the standings were Joaquin Niemann, Jon Rahm and Dean Burmester. Niemann would have received the exemption had it existed at that time. Rahm was already in the US Open as a past champion in 2021, but he withdrew over injury concerns. Burmester got into the US Open field through final qualifying.
The exemption category wording does not guarantee a LIV Golf player will get into the US Open through this category. With the wording of the exemption, it is possible that the top three players in the standings are already otherwise exempt into the US Open, meaning no additional LIV Golf player would be added to the field.
In addition to the full exemption made available, the USGA is also offering an exemption into final qualifying to the top 10 players in the standings that aren't already exempt into the US Open as of May 19, 2025.
In 2026, the LIV Golf exemption category will expand to include the "top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the Final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings" as well as the "top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings."
New LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil commented on the exemptions by saying in a statement: “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. Every golf fan in the world longs to see the greatest players in the world competing on golf’s biggest stages at the majors. LIV Golf is committed to working hand in hand with golf’s governing bodies to elevate the sport in all corners of the world.”
