USGA to consider exemption for LIV players at U.S. Open

The United States Golf Association (USGA) will use the offseason to discuss creating a new exemption category to benefit LIV players trying to qualify for the U.S. Open.

"We're going to talk about it this offseason, whether or not there needs to be a path to somebody, or somebodies, that are performing really well on LIV that can get a chance to play in that way," USGA CEO Mike Whan said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Mark Schlabach.

Whan added: "There (are) no out-of-bounds stakes on our field criteria. In other words, this major, probably different than some others, you can get in. It's not a closed field. It doesn't require a committee or an invitation. If you want to play in this field, you've got an opportunity to play in this field, and we're proud of that."

There were 13 LIV players initially in the field for this week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, but Jon Rahm, the 2021 champion, withdrew Tuesday due to a foot infection.

Three LIV members made the tournament through final qualifying, but 35 were eligible to compete.

Whan noted that any discussions about changing qualifying policies hinge on negotiations between the PGA TOUR and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, as the two sides look to work out the details of last year's landmark framework agreement.