- The US Open confirmed exemptions for LIV Golf players earlier this week
- A report has claimed the R&A are now set to follow suit for this year’s Open
- LIV Golf have also landed a free-to-air broadcast deal in the UK with ITV
The Open are reportedly set to provide exemptions for LIV Golf players in another major boost to the Saudi-backed tour.
Since the formation of the breakaway tour, players who left for huge amounts of cash have not been able to accrue world rankings points.
The lack of ranking points made it difficult for them to play at The Masters, US Open, the Open, or the PGA Championship – golf’s four major tournaments.
The US Open became the first major to offer exemptions for LIV Golf players, declaring this week that a full exemption will be awarded to the ‘top player who is not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2025 LIV Golf individual standings as of May 19, 2025’.
According to The Telegraph, The Open will now follow suit with the R&A set to grant a number of places for LIV Golf players for this year’s tournament at Royal Portrush.
The report claims LIV would like double figures but are set to only be granted a couple as part of the agreement.
The Open are reportedly set to grant places to players competing on the LIV Golf tour
The deal would signify a major softening of the stance to LIV Golf and its players
The deal, however, would make a significant shift in the stance from the R&A after two-time champion Greg Norman was banned from attending the 2022 tournament at St Andrews due to his links with the series.
Neither R&A and LIV have commented on the reported agreement.
LIV have welcomed an agreement reached with ITV to broadcast their latest season on free-to-air television in the United Kingdom.
ITVX will show live and full coverage of every round of every tournament, with selected live broadcasts on ITV1 and ITV4.
A weekly highlights show produced by LIV Golf will also be broadcast on ITV4.
‘This is an exciting time for LIV Golf as we look ahead to the innovative 2025 season,’ said Niall Sloane, director of ITV Sport.
‘This partnership delivers free-to-air coverage for fans in the UK and we are delighted to welcome LIV Golf to ITV Sport.’
The agreement follows similar broadcast partnerships with FOX Sports in the USA, Coupang Play in South Korea, and Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
LIV Golf have agreed a free-to-air broadcast agreement in the United Kingdom with ITV
The broadcast deals will be viewed as a major step forward for LIV in its bid to gain legitimacy following the controversial breakaway.
The agreement comes in the same week as reports of the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV were talked up, following a meeting between the former and US President Donald Trump.
Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and former Masters Champion Adam Scott visited the White House on Tuesday.
