LIV Golf players could have US Open pathway in future, says USGA chief executive Mike Whan
2021 US Open champion Jon Rahm's withdrawal from Pinehurst due to injury means only 12 LIV players will be in the field for the 124th US Open; Watch day one live on Sky Sports Golf from 12.30pm on Thursday
Wednesday 12 June 2024 19:04, UK
USGA chief executive Mike Whan says he is serious about creating a pathway for LIV players into the US Open as golf's fractured landscape could be the "new world order".
Although Tiger Woods described the latest talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) - which bankrolls LIV Golf - as "productive", the anniversary of the framework agreement signed by the two sides in golf's civil war passed last week with no permanent deal in sight.
Jon Rahm's withdrawal through injury means only 12 LIV players will be in the field for the 124th US Open at Pinehurst, with four coming through final qualifying to join those already exempt.
- US Open 2024: Full groupings and tee times for opening round
- Storylines to follow: Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and more!
- When is the US Open on Sky Sports? Key TV times and how to follow
- Stream the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, majors and more with NOW
Asked about a pathway for the top-performing LIV players, Whan said: "I think we are serious about that. Exactly what that looks like, I'm not just being coy, we haven't done that yet.
"I also think, if I'm being perfectly honest with you, we've always felt like for the last year and a half that we're always three months away from kind of understanding what the new structure is going to look like.
Trending
- World Darts Championship: Cross in trouble after Evans stuns Chisnall LIVE!
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Bayern want Dortmund's English winger Gittens
- Amorim questions decision-making from Rashford's camp
- Papers: Arsenal fear Saka could be out until March
- World Darts Championship schedule: Cross headlines Monday's action
- Usyk vs Fury 2: Fury 'robbed'? What do the stats reveal?
- Double blow! Sterling out 'for a while' - so will Arsenal sign a winger?
- PL Predictions: Forest to turn up heat on stubborn Ange
- Amorim's Sporting replacement set to be sacked - Portuguese media
- Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
"So before we kind of react, what is LIV going to be, what's the PGA Tour? We always felt like we're just about to know that answer, so let's figure that out.
"Now, I think the reason we're being more vocal about looking at that [pathway] for next year is maybe this is the new world order, and if that's the case we wanted to take a look at that.
"I think it's feasible. I don't think it's a huge pathway, but we do offer other pathways through DP World Tour or Korn Ferry Tour, so we know that there's an option to get there."
Who will win the third men's major of the year? Watch the US Open live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the US Open and more with NOW.
Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland