The LIV Golf issue has been resolved, at least as it applies to the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship.
The PGA of America has added LIV Golf, the breakaway league that’s primarily funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, to its list of “approved tours,” which grants A-3 PGA membership to its players and makes them eligible for the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship.
“It’s more of a cleanup,” Kerry Haigh, the association’s chief championships officer and interim CEO, told GolfChannel.com. “We’ve added the LIV tour to the list of tours that are eligible towards A-3 membership, which all [PGA] Tour members are eligible for. The LIV players had previously been [PGA of America] members but had we not done this they would have had to go through more requirements which no other tour members are asked to do.”
Players who had joined LIV Golf had been granted a “grace period” for last year’s Ryder Cup – which allowed Zach Johnson to select Brooks Koepka as one of his captain’s picks – but it had been unclear how the PGA of America would continue to navigate the divide in professional golf.
Although the move stops short of granting Ryder Cup team points for earnings or finishes on LIV Golf, it does pave the way for players like Bryson DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Open in June and is currently third on the U.S. points list, to play for the American side next year at Bethpage Black as well as to continue to play in the PGA Championship.
Historically, the PGA has used the major championships and select PGA Tour events to award points for U.S. Ryder Cup team qualification and when asked if the association has considered adding finishes at LIV events to that criteria Haigh said, “That has not been discussed.”
“I’m going to have the best 12 players, so the PGA of America, they – we’re going to have the 12 best players, so they need to figure that out, if that’s their problem,” U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley said at last month’s BMW Championship. “I know you have to be a PGA member to play in the Ryder Cup. That’s the only stipulation that you need. So we’ll make sure if some of those guys that we think might make the team, we’ll make sure that they are a member.”
LIV players will be offered A-3 membership into the PGA of America, the same granted PGA Tour players as well as players on nine other circuits around the world including the DP World Tour.
“All these players would have still been eligible in the short term but they would have had to do additional requirements [to maintain membership],” said Haigh, who was tabbed as the interim CEO after former chief executive Seth Waugh stepped down in June. “LIV players have always been eligible and this cleanup of the bylaws just makes it more consistent with the other tours and will allow the best players in the world to play the PGA Championship and represent the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup, which has always been the case.”
Jon Rahm appears set to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup after appealing the sanctions imposed on him.
The European Ryder Cup team had already created a pathway for LIV golfers to play in the biennial matches, albeit a much more expensive option that has been criticized by Jon Rahm. The only stipulation for a European player is that they maintain their membership on the DP World Tour, which means they must play a minimum of four European tour events per year. However, those who joined LIV Golf are required to pay fines for violating the circuit’s policies for conflicting events and media right releases.
Last week, LIV Golf’s Rahm appealed those fines and said he planned to play the DP World Tour minimum, which counts his start at the Paris Olympics, that would make him eligible for next year’s matches.
“I’m not a big fan of the fines,” Rahm said last week. “I think I’ve been outspoken about that. I don’t intend to pay the fines, and we keep trying to have a discussion with them about how we can make this happen.”
Most prestigious events.
Table of Contents
LIV Golf Issue Resolved: PGA of America Grants Membership to LIV Golfers, Clearing Path for Ryder Cup and PGA Championship Participation
In a significant development, the PGA of America has formally recognized LIV Golf, the breakaway tour backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, as an “approved tour,” paving the way for its players to participate in the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship. This move marks a major resolution to the ongoing divide in professional golf, allowing LIV golfers to compete alongside their PGA Tour counterparts in two of the sport’s most prestigious events.
A-3 Membership Grants Ryder Cup and PGA Championship Eligibility
The PGA of America’s decision grants A-3 membership to LIV Golf players, making them eligible for the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship. This development is seen as a “cleanup” measure by the PGA of America, ensuring consistency in membership requirements across various tours, including the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour.
“We’ve added the LIV tour to the list of tours that are eligible towards A-3 membership, which all PGA Tour members are eligible for,” said Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s chief championships officer and interim CEO. “The LIV players had previously been PGA of America members, but we had to do this to make it more consistent with the other tours.”
LIV Golfers Can Now Represent the U.S. in the Ryder Cup
This decision means that LIV golfers, such as Bryson DeChambeau, who is currently third on the U.S. points list, can now participate in the Ryder Cup, slated to take place at Bethpage Black next year. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley had previously stated that the PGA of America would ensure that the best 12 players represent the American side, and this development clears the way for LIV golfers to be part of the team.
No Changes to Ryder Cup Qualification Criteria
While this development allows LIV golfers to participate in the Ryder Cup, it does not change the qualification criteria, which remains based on points earned through major championships and select PGA Tour events. Haigh confirmed that the PGA of America has not discussed adding finishes at LIV events to the qualification criteria.
European Ryder Cup Team Already Has a Pathway for LIV Golfers
In contrast, the European Ryder Cup team had already created a pathway for LIV golfers to participate in the biennial matches, albeit with a more expensive option that has been criticized by Jon Rahm. European players can maintain their membership on the DP World Tour by playing a minimum of four European events, making them eligible for the Ryder Cup.
Implications for Professional Golf
This development has significant implications for professional golf, potentially bridging the divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. While it does not resolve all issues, it creates a pathway for LIV golfers to participate in two of golf’s
– What are the implications of LIV Golf players gaining eligibility for the U.S. Ryder Cup and PGA Championship?
LIV Golf Players Cleared to Participate in U.S. Ryder Cup and PGA Championship
In a significant development, the PGA of America has announced that players from the LIV Golf league, primarily funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, will be eligible to participate in the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship. This move brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding the participation of LIV Golf players in these prestigious events.
The PGA of America has added LIV Golf to its list of “approved tours,” granting A-3 PGA membership to its players and making them eligible for the U.S. Ryder Cup team and the PGA Championship. This decision is seen as a “cleanup” by the association, as LIV players had previously been members of the PGA of America but would have had to go through additional requirements to maintain their membership.
“The LIV players had previously been [PGA of America] members, but had we not done this, they would have had to go through more requirements, which no other tour members are asked to do,” said Kerry Haigh, the association’s chief championships officer and interim CEO.
This decision paves the way for players like Bryson DeChambeau, who currently sits third on the U.S. points list, to play for the American side in the 2024 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, as well as continue to participate in the PGA Championship. However, it is worth noting that the PGA of America has not considered adding finishes at LIV events to the criteria for U.S. Ryder Cup team qualification.
When asked about the possibility of including LIV events in the qualification criteria, Haigh said, “That has not been discussed.” U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley has expressed confidence in having the best 12 players on his team, stating, “I know you have to be a PGA member to play in the Ryder Cup. That’s the only stipulation that you need. So we’ll make sure if some of those guys that we think might make the team, we’ll make sure that they are a member.”
LIV Golf players will be offered A-3 membership into the PGA of America, the same granted to PGA Tour players, as well as players on nine other circuits around the world, including the DP World Tour.
“All these players would have still been eligible in the short term, but they would have had to do additional requirements [to maintain membership],” Haigh explained. “LIV players have always been eligible, and this cleanup of the bylaws just makes it more consistent with the other tours and will allow the best players in the world to play the PGA Championship and represent the U.S. team at the Ryder Cup, which has always been the case.”
This decision is seen as a significant step towards resolving the tensions between the LIV Golf league and the traditional golf establishment. The move clears the way for some of the world’s top golfers to participate in two of the most prestigious events in golf, ensuring that the best players will be able to compete against each other on the biggest stages.
Optimized Keywords:
LIV Golf
PGA of America
U.S. Ryder Cup team
PGA Championship
A-3 PGA membership
Kerry Haigh
Keegan Bradley
Bryson DeChambeau
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
DP World Tour
* PGA Tour
