Major chiefs dismiss LIV Golf rumour: "Wide of the mark"

The chief executive of the R&A and chairman of Augusta National have dismissed chatter exemptions will be offered to LIV Golf players at next year's majors. 

Breakaway tour players were denied Official World Golf Ranking points earlier in the month in a decision that was described as 'not political' by the governing body's chairman, Peter Dawson. 

It means that if things continue as they are, LIV players will become increasingly frozen out of the four majors.

"We are not at war with them," Dawson said as he explained the decision to deny the rival league points - a clear pathway into the majors - was based on its team element and promotion/relegation system. 

Still, a number of LIV players quickly offered their solutions. Bryson DeChambeau said the top 12 players on LIV's money list should be offered spots in next year's majors. Bubba Watson also backed that idea. 

Telegraph Sport reported recently LIV were engaged in talks with the R&A to ensure more of its players appear in next year's Open. 

Nothing could be further from the truth, Martin Slumbers said as he sat alongside Fred Ridley at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne.

Dawson told reporters: "I would say that it is completely off the mark. I would like to make it very clear that exemptions for the Open, we do not discuss them with anyone and nor would we at any point in time.

"I think it's very important that you don't lose sight of the fact that the Open is intended to be open to everybody; that you earn your place in the field, through exemptions, and that won't change."

 

 

 

 

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Ridley added: "If you look back over the history of the Masters tournament, and the qualifications that existed, we have changed those qualifications in numerous times, dozens of times.

"We look at those every year. We don't make changes every year, but we do look at them under the current circumstances. As you'll recall last year, there was some speculation as to whether or not we would invite LIV golfers. We stayed true to our qualification criteria. We invited everyone who was eligible." 

Ridley said the major doesn't anticipate making a change in 2024 but stressed the qualifications are 'very dynamic' and will do 'what is in the best interest of a tournament representing the best players in the world'. 

Slumbers said there are plenty of opportunities for any player in the world who has played good enough to qualify for the Open. 

"Irrespective of which tour they are participating on and that will not change."

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