LIV golfers not guaranteed inclusion in future U.S. Opens

USGA CEO Mike Whan speaks during a press conference during a practice round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

LIV Golf participants not guaranteed inclusion in future U.S. Opens

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 6/15/22

The USGA extended an olive branch when it invited players suspended by the PGA Tour to play in the U.S. Open this week, but the future remains unclear as the standoff between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia-funded LIV Golf rages on.

CEO Mike Whan told reporters Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Open that the USGA will "monitor the professional golf landscape" but did admit he thinks there will be a day golfers participating in LIV Golf will not be allowed to play in future U.S. Opens.

Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, on whether he can envision a scenario where it becomes more difficult for LIV Golf players to qualify for a U.S. Open in the future:

“Yes.”
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) June 15, 2022

"I could foresee a day," Whan said, via ESPN, from The Country Club at Brookline. "Do I know what that day looks like? No, I don't. To be honest with you, what we're talking about [LIV Golf] was different two years ago, and it was different two months ago than it is today. We've been doing this for 127 years, so I think [the USGA] needs to take a long-term view of this and see where these things go. So we're not going to be a knee-jerk reaction to kind of what we do."

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan indefinitely suspended 17 golfers last week who chose to participate in LIV's first event. Seven of those golfers, including Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, are competing in the U.S. Open this week.

At the first tee for Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Kevin Na’s 12:30 practice tee time. pic.twitter.com/D11wJpwpWY
— Jayna Bardahl (@Jaynabardahl) June 14, 2022

Despite not committing to whether players will be kept from competing in the future, Whan admitted he thinks the breakaway league is fracturing golf on an international level.

"Listen, I'm saddened by what's happening in the professional game," he said. "Mostly as a fan because I like watching the best players in the world come together and play, and this is going to fracture that. I've heard that this is good for the game. At least from my outside view right now, it looks like it's good for a few folks playing the game, but I'm struggling with how this is good for the game."

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