Talor Gooch makes it very clear he won't try to qualify for U.S. Open with blunt two-word answer
Talor Gooch of the US (R) celebrates with his caddie Malcolm Baker after winning the 2023 Liv Golf tournament in Adelaide on April 23, 2023. (Photo by Brenton Edwards / AFP) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE — (Photo by BRENTON EDWARDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Talor Gooch has been very vocal with his disappointment in not being in certain major championship fields. On Thursday, he was just as clear about not even trying to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open.
The reigning LIV Golf player of the year has seen his Official World Golf Ranking plummet the past couple years due to the new league not being awarded world ranking points. Based on his PGA Tour performance in 2022, Gooch earned spots in last year’s Masters and Open Championship. He was also given a special exemption by the PGA Championship. But in 2024, the 32-year-old is not qualified for any of the four majors.
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Gooch has also been ridiculed by Golf Twitter for his past comments that major champions might deserve asterisks by their names if they win without players like him in the field. Gooch was particularly upset at the USGA, which tweaked its U.S. Open criteria last year resulting in Gooch being bumped from the field at LACC.
Gooch could have still tried to qualify for the event—like several other LIV players including Sergio Garcia, who made it to LACC and finished T-27—but declined. And he left no doubt that once again he will not be trying to qualify for this year’s event at Pinehurst.
At a press conference with his Smash GC teammates, a question was asked about the players’ plans for U.S. Open qualifying. Obviously, team captain Brooks Koepka, a two-time U.S. Open champ and the defending PGA champ, is all set. But another former U.S. Open champ, Graeme McDowell, said he plans to try to qualify, as does Jason Kokrak. Then Gooch picked up his mic.
“I’m not,” he bluntly said before lowering back his mic, drawing a chuckle from Kokrak. Have a look:
So there you have it. Talor Gooch will not be trying to qualify for next month’s U.S. Open. And let’s just say it’s a pretty big lock that the USGA will not extend him a special exemption like it’s expected to for Tiger Woods.
Gooch is currently 10th in the LIV season standings after winning three times last year. The 2024 U.S. Open is scheduled for June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2.