Open Champion: Move To Include LIV In Majors Could Have Come Sooner.

1 month ago by Comments Off on Open Champion: Move To Include LIV In Majors Could Have Come Sooner.

Open Champion Cam Smith believes the move by the four bodies organising the men’s majors to now include LIV players could have come sooner.

We finally had news yesterday that the R & A has now joined the PGA of America, Augusta National and the USGA in opening the entry door, albeit slightly, to all LIV Golf League members to compete.

The St. Andrews based R & A indicated the leading five players on LIV’s individual standings following its Dallas tournament in late June, who were not already exempt, would be afforded entry into the following month’s championship.

Smith brilliantly captured the 150th hosting of the Open Championship in 2022 at St. Andrews, a victory that assures his exemption into all four of the men’s majors.

However the proud Australian is none too pleased it has taken so long for all four bodies to be on the same page with exemptions though the PGA of America has clearly opened the door a lot wider for LIV stars..

Smith is back home in Adelaide preparing for this week’s second event of the LIV Golf starting Friday at The Grange Golf Club.

“I think it would have been nice to have that as soon as we moved over here but obviously things take time,” he said.

“I think it definitely needed to happen. I feel like there are some guys out here who have missed out on spots in majors over that past couple years that deserved them so it’s good to see that they are acknowledging us.

“It’s hard to win out here and it’s hard to compete and I think we have the strongest fields in golf week in and week out. I think it will be the best thing for the game.”

While Smith is exempt into the four majors it’s not the same scenario for his all-Australian Ripper GC colleagues in Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are among those who have missed out in recent years after sliding in the world rankings because LIV events do not attract points.

Herbert is lying fourth and Leishman sixth in the 2025 LIV standings following last week’s season-opener in Saudi Arabia.

Leishman contested 44 majors from his debut at the games highest level at the 2010 Masters, and with a best finish of runner-up to Zach Johnson in the 2015 Open at St. Andrews, but played his last in missing the cut in 2022.

The 13-time Tour winner has accepted the likelihood of missing out on majors when he signed with LIV but was grateful the stand-off was heading towards and end.

“We do want to play those majors and I think it proves we are on the right track and are going to be around for a long time, that the majors are starting to recognise it,” said Leishman.



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