R&A Confirms LIV Golf Players Will Not Be Banned From The Open Championship
R&A confirms The Open will remain open to LIV Golf players


The R&A has sought to clarify its position after reports that LIV Golf players will face bans from the Majors in 2023.
There has been a lot of speculation this week around the status of LIV players in PGA and DP World Tour events, the Ryder Cup and the Majors, and while LIV Golf players' participation in some events still seems up in the air, the governing body has confirmed to Golf Monthly that LIV players will not be banned from future Open Championships, with The Open remaining open to those who qualify for golf's oldest Major through any of the established qualifying routes.
"I never said the best golfers will not be able to play," R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers said earlier in the week. "We will hold totally true to The Open being open to anybody. But we may well look at how you get into that, whether it's an exemption or a need to qualify through our qualifying process."
A number of high profile LIV Golf players hold exemptions into next year's Open, the 151st at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, including 2020 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, 2020 Masters champion Dustin Johnson and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed.
Phil Mickelson, the 2013 Open champion at Muirfield, is exempt into the championship until the age of 60, as is 2010 Champion Golfer of the Year Louis Oosthuizen.
Four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka is also exempt for The Open for another two years following his most recent Major win at the 2019 PGA Championship.
Regardless of what happens in the wider game, there are a number of avenues that remain available to LIV players to make their way into the field next year, including exemptions and The Open's own Qualifying Series and Final Qualifying.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
-
Who Is Isaiah Salinda's Caddie?
Isaiah Salinda is one of the game's rising stars, but who has he had on the bag for him?
By Mike Hall
-
Do You Want To Be On Tour? Incredible Cut Number Shows How Good The Pros Really Are!
A host of players leaving the Korn Ferry Tour's Veritex Bank Championship early will be scratching their heads as to how the cut number was set at nine-under
By Mike Hall
-
Watch Bryson DeChambeau Smash 400+ Yard Monster Drive In LIV Golf Mexico Practice
DeChambeau is hitting mega drives this week in the 7,800ft altitude setting of Golf Club de Chapultepec in Mexico City
By Elliott Heath
-
Tiger Woods Heads 8 Golfers To Make All Time Rich List Of Top 50 Highest Paid Athletes
Tiger Woods is the second highest paid athlete of all time behind only Michael Jordan in a new top 50 rich list from Sportico
By Paul Higham
-
Rory McIlroy's Sports Psychologist Explains Why He 'Didn't Talk' To Bryson DeChambeau In Masters Final Round
DeChambeau raised eyebrows at Augusta National when claiming that McIlroy wouldn't engage in conversation during the final round of The Masters
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Emotional Bryson DeChambeau Recreates 'The Shot Of My Life' At Pinehurst No.2 As Plaque Unveiled Day After Masters Charge Fizzles Out
The 2024 US Open champion travelled over to North Carolina a day after watching Rory McIlroy win The Masters to recreate the shot which helped the American down the Northern Irishman at Pinehurst last summer
By Jonny Leighfield
-
'He Wouldn't Talk To Me' - Bryson DeChambeau Reveals Rory McIlroy Dynamic During The Masters Final Round
After a disappointing Sunday at The Masters, DeChambeau shared that McIlroy was so focused en route to victory that the pair barely exchanged words all day
By Jonny Leighfield
-
Brooks Koepka Confirms Driver Switch Ahead Of The Masters
The five-time Major winner heads in to Augusta National as one of the favorites, but revealed he had changed his driver following LIV Golf Miami last week
By Matt Cradock
-
'I'm Working Hard To Figure It Out' - Bryson DeChambeau Reveals New 'Prototype' Golf Balls Are In The Works
After changing his golf ball at the start of 2025, DeChambeau revealed in Miami that there are some new prototype models currently being worked on
By Matt Cradock
-
Koepka Reveals Which Two PGA Tour Events He’d Be ‘Open’ To Playing In Again
Although there's no sign of it happening anytime soon, Brooks Koepka has named the two tournaments he'd like to play in if allowed back on the PGA Tour
By Paul Higham