The USGA has issued their much anticipated statement regarding the eligibility of PGA/DP World Tour golfers playing in London this week at the breakaway LIV Series event.
"We pride ourselves in being the most open championship in the world, and the players who have earned the right to compete in this year's championship, both via exemption and qualifying, will have the opportunity to do so.
Our field criteria were set BEFORE to entries opening earlier this year and it is NOT APPROPRIATE nor fair to competitors to change criteria once established.
Regarding players who may choose to play in London this week, we simply asked ourselves this question: should a player who has earned his way into the 2022 US Open via our published field criteria, be pulled out of the field as a result of his decision to play in another event? We ultimately decided they should not.
Our decision regarding the field for the 2022 US Open should not be construed as the USGA supporting an alternative organizing entity, nor supporting of any individual player actions or comments.
Rather it is simply a response to whether or not the USGA views playing in an alternative event without the consent of their home tour is an offence that should disqualify them from the US Open."
So I would think this also leads the way to clearing the decks for the PGA of America, R&A and the Masters Committee to follow suit. Players who qualified before all the angst regarding the rival LIV Series must be allowed to play. However remember that these organizations also control the Official World Golf Rankings that decide who does qualify.
LIV has applied to have their events recognized as OWGR events, but that decision remains to be seen and seems to me to be crucial in the success or failure of this whole issue.
How those players will will be handled by the PGA/DP World Tour regular season events is another story yet to unfold. Suspensions are inevitable.
By resigning from the PGA Tour, Dustin Johnson, Kevin Na, Phil Mickelson and the others rumoured have made that decision not to play for themselves. It also removes the discomfort of the reception they would receive upon their return.
The fans response at the Country Club in Brookline Mass., to their appearance will be mixed I'm sure, but I'll bet those involved are happy it's not being played in the Bronx..
Bryan Angus
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