PGA to allow LIV Golf players to participate in Ryder Cup & PGA Championship: What do we know?
With the organization’s statement, we can assume that the relationship between the PGA of America and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf is now on the mend.
Golf fans and players alike have been on a roller coaster ride since the PGA Tour’s monopoly of the game was challenged by the creation of LIV Golf. From bitter battles between stars of the game to legal proceedings backed by American senators, the feud between the two organizations has been as ugly as it has been educational and that’s before we touch on the shocking merger that was proposed. Now, it may be that we’ve come full circle with LIV Golf members apparently being welcomed back into the fold.
PGA set to allow LIV Golf players in Ryder Cup & PGA Championship
By all accounts, relations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf appear to be improving after the former released a statement on Thursday indicating that eligible players from the Saudi-funded golf league will be permitted to participate in both the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. It’s worth noting, however, that the PGA did not specify how many of LIV Golf’s members would be allowed to play in the PGA Championship, a pertinent point to consider as they have no direct path to qualification.
“To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both,” the PGA said in a statement. “Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain’s pick is eligible to compete. This is consistent with LIV Golf players competing in the PGA Championship the past two years. Brooks Koepka was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year.”
Now, as much as this is good news for neutrals, it should be said that reports on Wednesday suggested that there is currently resistance from some in the PGA of America when it comes to allowing Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and other LIV Golf players to become members of the organization. Indeed, such a move would in theory make way for U.S. captain Keegan Bradley to pick them via one of his at-large selections next year for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York. For the moment, the organization itself has given no official word on that situation, but it did make clear its stance on the idea of LIV players securing membership status.
“It’s more of a cleanup,” said Kerry Haigh, PGA of America chief championships officer and interim CEO. “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.” To be clear, the PGA Championship typically invites those who are among the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, though it must be said, that’s not the official criteria for exemption. Stay tuned.