LIV Golf League Players Prepare for U.S. Open Qualifying; Talor Gooch Opts Out

Several LIV Golf League players are gearing up to try and secure a spot in the U.S. Open field through final qualifying next month, but one notable player will be sitting this one out. Talor Gooch, the top player on LIV Golf in 2023, has announced that he will not be participating in the qualifiers, although he did not provide a reason for his decision.

During a news conference in Singapore, Gooch made it clear that he would not be vying for a spot in the U.S. Open, despite his impressive performance on the LIV Golf circuit last year, where he won three times and claimed the season-long points race. His decision not to participate raises questions about whether the USGA should consider granting him a special exemption.

While Gooch will be skipping the qualifiers, his Smash GC teammates Brooks Koepka, Graeme McDowell, and Jason Kokrak have confirmed that they will be trying to qualify for both the U.S. Open and the British Open. Koepka, a two-time major champion, is exempt from qualifying due to his PGA Championship win.

Gooch’s absence from the U.S. Open qualifiers comes after he expressed frustration about not being included in major championships due to his participation in LIV Golf events, which do not award Official World Golf Ranking points. Despite his ranking dropping to 624th in the OWGR, Gooch remains a competitive force on the LIV Golf circuit, with three top 10 finishes this year.

As the U.S. Open final qualifying approaches, golf fans will be eager to see how Gooch’s decision impacts his season and whether his absence will open the door for other LIV Golf players to shine on the big stage.