On the eve of its fourth-season debut, LIV Golf received some very welcome news. The U.S. Open became the first of the four majors to offer a distinct pathway for LIV Golf players into the field. The U.

Starting with the 2026 U.S. Open, the USGA will take the leading player in the final 2025 individual standings, along with the leading player from the May 18, 2026, list.

The USGA has created an exemption category for LIV Golf players to compete in the U.S. Open, making the tournament the first of golf's four majors to introduce a formal pathway for golfers on the Saudi-backed circuit,