One Burning LIV Golf Question Plagues Fans Despite Big Ryder Cup Announcement: ‘Were They Not Eligible Before?’
There has been no update on the PIF merger so far. But the drama related to it keeps unfolding as the rift between the two leagues escalates. Earlier this week, the PGA Tour players demanded reparations from defectors who shifted to the breakaway league. Players like Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and others were asked to return all the money earned from LIV Golf and pay fines to participate in the PGA Tour events.
They were also given the choice of donating to charity or forfeiting future PGA Tour winnings. These negotiations were made by the board members on the Tour which include Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Peter Malnati, and Webb Simpson. While the decision was declared ‘petty and vindictive’ by a lot of the people. It looks like there is yet another twist in the story.
Two days after the announcement, there was another announcement made by the PGA of America. On Thursday, they declared that from now on, all LIV Golf players can participate in the PGA Championship. Similarly, any American player who earns enough points to play in the Ryder Cup or is added to the US team as a captain’s pick can also play. “This is consistent with LIV Golf players competing in the PGA Championship the past two years. Brooks Koepka was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team last year,” they added.
A Statement from the PGA of America. pic.twitter.com/Lg92Dl8U30
— PGA of America (@PGA) September 19, 2024
While this is supposed to be taken as good news, it looks like the wind has shifted in another direction. The entire golf community was confused regarding the statement made by the organization.
The golf community is unsure about the plans of the PGA of America
The LIV Golf events are not eligible for the OWGR points. The Ryder Cup format has two ways for qualifying to be part of the team: captain’s pick and OWGR standings. If the breakaway league’s players still remain eligible for the points, they are anyway at a disadvantage of being part of the team. Additionally, for the second Major of the season, only the best players in the standings get to be part of the field.
Taking to this, one of them wrote, “This confirms the 2025 Ryder Cup will operate under the same guidelines as the 2023 Ryder Cup for Team USA: LIV Golf players can qualify on points, LIV Golf players can be captain’s picks (like Brooks Koepka was in 2023), and No indication LIV Golf events will carry points”.
Brooks Koepka was part of the 2023 Ryder Cup team because of a grace period. This gave him access to be a PGA of America member through 2024. However, there is yet no clarity as to how they are planning to handle the divide in professional golf. Additionally, as per the rules, the captain’s were already given the advantage of choosing players from the breakaway league.
Taking to this, people left comments like, “I honestly may have missed something, but I don’t think players were ever *not* eligible for either the Ryder Cup or PGA” and “I can’t figure out if we missed something here. Weren’t they eligible to play anyway? If not, definitely a good move for the game.”
At the PGA Championship in May, Bryson DeChambeau was already a part of the field, despite playing on LIV Golf. He lost the trophy to Xander Schauffele by just one stroke. Additionally, defending champion Brooks Koepka also made it to the list but finished with a disappointing T26. However, the point is, what the PGA of America is claiming to be a new guideline is already under action.
Taking to this, one of them, utterly confused, wrote, “Were they not eligible before? As this release states, Koepka was on the last Ryder Cup team and Bryson nearly won the PGA this year. No idea why they felt the need to post this.”
While another, wondering if they were watching some other version of the game, sarcastically commented, “Was I watching a different version of the latest PGA Champ and Ryder Cup? I could’ve swore I saw LIV players in both.”
What do you think about the new statement released by the PGA of America? Let us know in the comments section below!
