LIV Golf stars urge majors to review qualifying criteria

One of LIV Golf’s biggest stars has urged the four majors to have a significant review of their qualifying criteria or risk having their tournaments “devalued” due to the world rankings stalemate.

Former US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, who finished tied sixth in this month’s Masters, wants Augusta National, the PGA of America, United States Golf Association and the R&A to find a rapid solution as Greg Norman’s LIV Golf stars plummet down the world rankings.

DeChambeau’s own five-year exemption to all four majors ends next year and he faces an uncertain future in golf’s biggest events unless a resolution is found.

“I get it, I understand people are frustrated and I’m an advocate for great golf,” DeChambeau said.

“If great golf is on the top of the list – say, Talor Gooch– he should be playing [majors]. Give us an exemption criteria for that.

“It’s disappointing to see the non-action. What are people complaining about? I’m not worried about the OWGR [Official World Golf Ranking] any more. It’s about how do we get these great golfers into the majors so their product is enhanced and not devalued. I think we’re an enhancement and not a devaluation.”

Bryson DeChambeau during the second round of LIV Golf Adelaide.

The four majors have, so far, refused to yield from their existing criteria, which largely relies on the official world rankings to determine fields.

But with LIV having withdrawn their world rankings application, the likes of Brooks Koepka (36), Australia’s top star Cameron Smith (53), DeChambeau (113), Phil Mickelson (153), Dustin Johnson (356) and Sergio Garcia (689) have plummeted down the world rankings and, in coming years, will face greater difficulty qualifying for majors.

Talor Gooch plays on the 12th hole at The Grange Golf Club.

Smith has only a scant chance of earning one of two Australian spots for the Olympic Games unless he can win a major before Paris.

PGA Tour regulars Jason Day and Min Woo Lee are safely inside the world’s top 50 and have indicated a desire to compete in the Olympic Games while they continue to regularly accrue rankings points.

Talor Gooch, who topped Smith to be crowned LIV Golf’s individual champion last year, wasn’t invited to this month’s Masters and said before the event the winner should have an asterisk next to their name given it would be missing several LIV stars.

Gooch is now ranked 602 in the world having joined LIV in 2022.

“Unfortunately, it’s political so there’s no magic solution,” Gooch said of the majors dilemma after another bumper day at LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club on Saturday.

“I think the best players in the world should be playing in the majors, and it’s obvious we have a bunch of the best players in the world out here.

“There’s got to be a way to reward guys who compete and play great.”

Ryder Cup legend Ian Poulter’s world ranking has plunged so far he’s on the cusp of exiting the world’s best 500 golfers.

“It’s no interest to me at all,” Poulter said. “It’s dead to me. Absolutely irrelevant. I used to look at it weekly, but I haven’t looked at in two years.”

Poulter did leave the door open to one day rejoining Team Europe in a captain or assistant’s role despite saying he watch last year’s win over the United States in Rome as a number of veteran European stars committed to LIV.

“I will never play another Ryder Cup,” Poulter said. “My playing days are finished.

“I’d love to be a helping hand, but things would have to change. I’m not comfortable with what happened and the way things happened, and what’s been said. There will have to be some form of change or bridges rebuilt in some way, shape or form. Then, perhaps I would consider it.”

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