USGA to allow LIV Golf competitors to compete in 2022 US Open

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The United States Golf Association (USGA) said Tuesday it will allow players who compete in LIV Golf’s opening tournament this weekend to play the U.S. Open next week.

The U.S. Open is one of the handful of events organized by the USGA. The organization said it would be unfair to change the criteria of the rules for participation in the event last minute to bar those who have chosen to play in LIV Golf’s first tournament.

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Jon Rahm speaks to the media after winning the final round of the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 20, 2021, in San Diego, California. (Harry How/Getty Images)

"We pride ourselves in being the most open championship in the world and the players who have earned the right to compete in this year’s championship, both via exemption and qualifying, will have the opportunity to do so. Our field criteria were set prior to entries opening earlier this year and it’s not appropriate, nor fair to competitors, to change criteria once established," the USGA said.

"Regarding players who may choose to play in London this week, we simply asked ourselves this question – should a player who had earned his way into the 2022 U.S. Open, via our published field criteria, be pulled out of the field as a result of his decision to play in another event? And we ultimately decided that they should not."

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Dustin Johnson lines up his putt during the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course on June 20, 2021, in San Diego, (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The USGA said their statement wasn’t a message of support for players participating in the PGA Tour’s rival league.

"Our decision regarding our field for the 2022 U.S. Open should not be construed as the USGA supporting an alternative organizing entity, nor supporting of any individual player actions or comments. Rather, it is simply a response to whether or not the USGA views playing in an alternative event, without the consent of their home tour, an offense that should disqualify them for the U.S. Open."

Phil Mickelson with his tee shot during the Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club on Nov. 12, 2021, in Arizona. (Allan Henry-USA Today Sports)

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Some top PGA Tour players announced they were playing in LIV Golf’s first tournament this weekend, including Phil Mickelson. Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen said they were both resigning from the PGA Tour.