US Open creates new exemptions for LIV players as season starts under lights in Riyadh

LIV players have gone from pariahs to being welcomed back into the embrace of some major championships after a new US Open ruling created waves.

The LIV players who were almost exiled from the rest of the golfing world two years ago have had another major door opened, with a special exemption category for up to 10 players not already qualified to earn a spot at the US Open.

Ahead of the opening event of 2025, being played under lights in Riyadh this week, which Australian LIV star Cam Smith said felt a “little bit weird”, the USGA confirmed the new exemptions would come into force for this year’s Open at Oakmont in June.

The highest-ranked player on the LIV rankings who is not otherwise exempt will go straight into the field, while the top 10 players as of April 7 will go straight into the final 36 holes of qualifying.

LIV star Bryson DeChambeau won last year’s US Open but several LIV players, including Masters winner Sergio Garcia, failed to get into the US Open through qualifying.

LIV star Bryson DeChambeau won last year’s US Open. Picture: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The new move was welcomed by LIV boss Scott O’Neil.

“Every golf fan in the world longs to see the greatest players in the world competing on golf’s biggest stages at the majors,” he said.

“LIV Golf is committed to working hand-in-hand with golf’s governing bodies to elevate the sport in all corners of the world.”

Smith, who is exempt into the US Open courtesy of his British Open win in 2022, is looking for individual success in 2025 and sharpened his game with a competitive team pre-season camp following a frustrating but worthwhile couple of months in Australia after his Ripper GC took out last year’s LIV team championship.

Smith and his all-Australian quartet of Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones didn’t net any individual victories last season but combined to take out Adelaide event and then the season-ending team championship, which has put a target on their backs.

Could watch these night ball flights all day long 😍🔁#RipperGC#LIVGolfRiyadh#RipperModepic.twitter.com/55JZf035nS

— Ripper GC (@rippergc_) February 5, 2025

His trip home included taking aim at Australian Open officials for the set-up of the layout used for the national championship as Smith became the front-facing voice calling for change to the dual-gender format.

But politics have been put to one side more recently, and if admirers on the range in Riyadh, where players are hitting balls at night, are anything to go by, Smith is poised to open with a bang.

“I think the trip down to Australia was really nice for me,” he said.

“I played four tournaments down there, played the International here (in Saudi Arabia), so really haven’t had a lot of time to kind of sit down and do nothing.

“It was kind of, I guess, a bit of a mission of mind to clean up some stuff, particularly in the longer game, and it feels really nice.

“I feel like the last couple of weeks it’s kind of all shaped up really nice, been pretty competitive at home. We had a team camp in Miami a couple of weeks ago and just kind of sharpened the edges a little bit. It is feeling nice.”

Of the first tournament being played under lights at night, Smith said it was “hard to know what to expect” other than he’d get a sleep in.

“Doing everything at night time is a little bit weird,” he said.

“It’s really cool out there. I think it’s very different. The course is going to play a little bit different to when we were here. It’s probably going to play a little bit longer being a bit colder.

“It’s been a challenge, but like I said before, we’ve never really been scared of a challenge.”

It’s go time Under the Lights 🌃#LIVGolfRiyadhpic.twitter.com/VMY6sIQoO9

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 5, 2025

A new challenge awaits the following week in Adelaide also, with a move to February set to provide hot conditions for the players at The Grange Golf Club.

“It’s going to be different for us, particularly this year,” he said.

“I think usually we’ve had four or five events to get kind of into the rhythm of things, and like I said, we obviously want to do well. It is such a cool week. It’s going to be a great week next week, not only the golf but the acts we’ve got after golf, and the Australians love it.

“I can’t wait to get back there and showcase what LIV brings to golf again.”

Originally published as US Open creates new exemptions for LIV players as season starts under lights in Riyadh