Who Are The LIV Golfers Trying To Qualify For The US Open?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 3 May 2024

Apart from the very public exception of Talor Gooch, the overwhelming majority of LIV Golf players are trying to book their spot in the US Open by going through Final Qualifying.

Nine players in the LIV Golf League have already qualified for the third men's Major of the season at Pinehurst in June through different criteria.

They're all hoping to join Tiger Woods at the US Open - after the three-time champion was given a special exemption by the USGA.

Former champions Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Martin Kaymer all hold exemptions, and are joined by Phil Mickelson, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk.

And 35 others are looking to join them at the US Open after entering the tough 36-hole Final Qualifying events being held on 20 May and 3 June.

Jason Kokrak and former US Open champion Graeme McDowell confirmed their intention to attempt to qualify at the same press conference Gooch emphatically said he was not.

Gooch did not elaborate as to why, but he's among the vast minority with several other big names having a go at qualifying, including Sergio Garcia who came through qualifying to make it to last year's US Open at LA Country Club.

Garcia is again giving it a go, alongside fellow former Masters champions Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel and former Open winner Henrik Stenson.

Lee Westwood will also attempt to qualify but his fellow Majesticks co-captain Ian Poulter is among the big names not entering.

Gooch is the headliner and he's joined by two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and the likes of Paul Casey, Pat Perez and Anthony Kim.

LIV players entering US Open qualifying

Sergio Garcia takes a shot in a practice round before the 2024 Masters

Abraham Ancer
Dean Burmester
Laurie Canter
Eugenio Chacarra
Sergio Garcia
Branden Grace
Lucas Herbert
Sam Horsfield
Matt Jones
Jason Kokrak
Jinichiro Kozuma
Anirban Lahiri
Danny Lee
Marc Leishman
Graeme McDowell
Sebastian Munoz
Kevin Na
Joaquin Niemann
Andy Ogletree
Carlos Ortiz
Mito Pereira
David Puig
Patrick Reed
Kalle Samooja
Charl Schwartzel
Brendan Steele
Henrik Stenson
Caleb Surratt
Hudson Swafford
Cameron Tringale
Peter Uihlein
Harold Varner III
Kieran Vincent
Scott Vincent
Lee Westwood

LIV golfers not entering US Open qualifying

Richard Bland
Paul Casey
Talor Gooch
Charles Howell III
Anthony Kim
Louis Oosthuizen
Pat Perez
Thomas Pieters
Ian Poulter
Bubba Watson
Matthew Wolff

Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.

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LIV players entering US Open qualifying

LIV golfers not entering US Open qualifying